Children of War - by Ahmet Yorulmaz (Paperback)

About the Book

Fifteen generations of Hassanakis's family have been Cretan. After WW1, amidst rumours that Cretan Muslims will be sent to Turkey, Hassanakis worries he will have to leave behind his great love, the Greek widow Marigo, and his beloved homeland. He can't believe he will be sent to a country whose language he barely knows and where he knows no-one.

Book Synopsis

Inspired by the intimate diaries of a refugee family, Children of War is an evocative novel that seamlessly intertwines the allure, complexity, and scars of Crete's storied past to tell the intimate tale of an ordinary man caught in the vortex of extraordinary times.

For fifteen generations, Hassanakis's family has called Crete home, and he's always seen himself as a true Cretan. Yet, as the world around him is engulfed in the chaos of collapsing empires and simmering conflicts, Hassanakis finds himself at the crossroads of identity. In the face of escalating ethnic violence, his family's flight to Chania becomes a poignant journey of survival.

Amid the turmoil, Hassanakis weaves new roots, donning distinctive attire that earns him the nickname 'Hassan the mirror'. As World War I reaches its crescendo and the Turkish War of Independence rages on, a profound romance ignites between him and the graceful Hüsniye. But soon the prospect of being uprooted to a foreign Turkey becomes a chilling reality. Can he fathom leaving behind the life he's built for a land where he's a stranger?

Review Quotes

"beautifully written and eye-opening"--@head_in_the_pages (Instagram)

"A beautifully poignant and extraordinary novel that brings a gift of understanding the world a little bit more through the eyes of an ordinary man."--@BeeReader (Instagram)

"a distinctive voice that blends fact and fiction"--The Caffeinated Reader (Blog)

"a fascinating story of upheaval, displacement and national identity"--@mm_cheryl (Twitter)

"a short but absorbing read"--Intensive Gassing About Books (Blog)

"Children of War reminds us to challenge normative assumptions about ethnicity, race and identity"--Reading Under the Olive Tree (Blog)

About the Author

Ahmet Yorulmaz was a Turkish a journalist, author and translator. He was born in Ayvalik to a family of Cretan Turks deported to mainland Turkey as part of the Greek/Turkish population exchange decreed in the Treaty of Lausanne. He was fluent in modern Greek and translated novels and poems from contemporary Greek literature to Turkish. Most of his original works were written with the aim of making people learn about Ayvalık, the city where he grew up. He dedicated himself to Greek-Turkish friendship and rapprochement.

Paula Darwish is a freelance translator and professional musician. She read Turkish Language and Literature with Middle Eastern History at SOAS in London graduating with a First in 1997.

Paula Darwish is a freelance translator and professional musician. She read Turkish Language and Literature with Middle Eastern History at SOAS in London graduating with a First in 1997. She is a qualified member of the Institute of Translators and Interpreters (MITI).