Kurban said a reprint of a love story of two childhood friends, a muslim warrior and a christian girl, during the russian revolution. Set on the eve of war, ali and nino is an intimate love story impinged upon by vast historical and political forces. A love story by kurban said 2016, paperback at the best online prices at ebay. Ali and nino opens in baku, a town transformed by the discovery of oil. Set on the caspian sea, the novel symbolizes the clash of cultures between east and west. This book is widely compared to romeo and juliet and even dr. Set in the years surrounding the russian revolution and the rise of the soviet union, saids tale of an azerbaijani muslim boy in love with a georgian christian girl is both tender and disturbingly prescient. Kurban said books list of books by author kurban said. Ali a muslim, nino a christian, and though their love story the book tells the difference between europe and asia and the fatal challenges when the two different worl meets. Last year, a film of the novel was shown at the sundance film festival, increasing the novels popularity. Ali khan and nino kipiani live in the cosmopolitan, oilrich capital of azerbaijan which, at the beginning of the twentieth century, is a meltingpot of different cultures. Out of print for nearly three decades until the hardcover rerelease last year, ali and nino is kurban saids masterpiece.
The first edition of the novel was published in 1937, and was written by kurban said. Written under the pseudonym kurban said, the novel ali and nino is one of the masterpieces of southern caucasian literature and multicultural studies. The book describes the love of ali for nino, with excursions to mountain villages in daghestan, shusha in azerbaijan, tbilisi, georgia. First published in vienna in 1937, this classic story of romance and adventure has been compared to dr. In what ways does the above passage prefigure the novels main thematic developments. The true identity behind the pseudonym kurban said has been the subject of some dispute. It has been hailed as one of the most romantic epic novels of all time. Dec 24, 2015 quite the contrary, for ali and nino by kurban said is a thrilling love story that has an end no happier than romeo and juliet. Published by vintage 2000 ali khan and nino kipiani live in the cosmopolitan, oilrich capital of azerbaijan which, at the beginning of the twentieth century, is a meltingpot of different cultures. Book ali and nino kurban said 9780385720403 alinino. Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer no kindle device required. Ali and nino is a lyrically written story of love and war, honor and country, cultural blend and clash set in wwiera transcaucasia ie, azerbaijan, armenia, georgia.
As we flip through the pages of alis memoirs of sorts, we see just how in love he is with her and that she also shares his feelings. It is a romance in the tradition of great romantic literature. Kurban said project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. Despite his being an ethnic jew, his politics were such that, before his origins were discovered, the nazi propaganda ministry included his works on their list of excellent books for german minds. Oct 28, 2015 ali and nino does start out as a romance. Ali and nino by kurban said penguin books australia. Ali and nino grow up together in carefree innocence in.
As is true of all great literature, kurban said s ali and nino has timeless appeal. Essentially, the book is a quest for truth and reconciliation in a world of contradictory beliefs and practices islam and christianity, east and west, age and youth, male and female. Ali khan is an islamic boy from azerbaijan with his ancestors passion for the desert and warrior legends, but his lover nino, a beautiful christian girl from georgia, is the child with a more european sensibility. Kurban said was the pseudonym of lev nussimbaum, who grew up in baku and died. Dec 03, 20 as is true of all great literature, kurban said s ali and nino has timeless appeal. Kurban said, the author of the book, is a mystery, and scolars, even today, do not agree who he is. At once an unforgettable tale of love, adventure and personal heroism, ali and nino has persisted in readers memories just as the strange background of its authors life has continued to perplex all who look into it. Why does he prefer to be an asian rather than a european. A love story by kurban said 20, paperback at the best online prices at ebay. Books ali and nino is an almost impossible love story between two young people, a mohammedan man of persia and a christian woman of georgia. Our cheap used books come with free delivery in the uk. A reprint of a love story of two childhood friends, a muslim warrior and a christian girl, during the russian revolution. The couple grow up together in the azerbaijan town of baku, and their marriage takes place as world war i rages.
Almost as intriguing as the story of ali and nino is the mystery surrounding the supposed author, kurban said. Set in the years surrounding the russian revolution and the rise of the soviet union, said s tale of an azerbaijani muslim boy in love with a georgian christian girl is both tender and disturbingly prescient. World heritage encyclopedia, the aggregation of the largest online encyclopedias available, and the most definitive collection ever assembled. Ali and nino by kurban said is a tragic love story set in russianruled caucasia and persia at the time of world war i. Ali kahn, the narrator and hero, becomes a hero conquering his enemies in love and in war. Ali and nino is a love story for the ages we spent a few days with the cast and crew of ali and nino, an epic love story between a muslim and a greek orthodox christian, set in azerbaijan during.
As is true of all great literature, kurban saids ali and nino has timeless appeal. First published in vienna in 1937, this classic story of romance and. Ali and nino by kurban said, 2000, anchor books edition, in english 1st anchor books ed. Publication date 2000 topics muslims, christian women publisher new york. It explores the dilemmas created by european rule over an oriental society and presents a tableau portrait of azerbaijans capital, baku, during the. Lev nussimbaum 1905 1942 was a prolific jewish writer who reinvented himself as a muslim under the pseudonyms essad bey and kurban said. The main characters of this fiction, historical story are. Me and nino, a christian, who eats with knife and fork, has laughing eyes and wears filmy silk stockings p. Ali and nino is a novel about a romance between a muslim azerbaijani boy and christian. World heritage encyclopedia, the aggregation of the largest online encyclopedias available, and the.
Ali and nino is a novel published in german in 1937 under the alias kurban said, a love story between a muslim man and a christian woman set in baku. Parts of the story describing the relationship between the couple are moving, such as the struggles nino had in coping with the suffocating life of a harem, but this is primarily an ethnography capturing life in the caucasus region a hundred years ago with the love story used as a vehicle to allow the author to do this. Here, where eastern and occidental collide, they are inevitably drawn into the events of the first world war and the russian. Quite the contrary, for ali and nino by kurban said is a thrilling love story that has an end no happier than romeo and juliet. Early in the novel, as ali reflects on his hometown, he thinks, god let me be born here, a muslim of the shiite faith, in the religion of imam dshafar. Kurban sand is the alias of the author of ali and nino enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. Zhivago and advertised as one of the best love stories of the last century. The novel has simply all the elements of greatness. A love story and millions of other books are available for. Oct 20, 2000 ali and nino a love story by kurban said translated by jenia graman anchor books, 277 pp.
The sweeping tale of love challenged by war, as romantic and gripping as gone with the wind or dr. Ali and nino is the story of an azerbaijani youth who falls in love with a georgian princess. A love story by kurban said and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Up to this day nobody knows for certain who was the real person hiding behind it, but three possible authors have been made out. Its mysterious author was recently the subject of a feature article in the new yorker, which has inspired a forthcoming biography. Ali and nino a love story arts and entertainment bbc. Ali and nino is a love story for the ages the national. Its a novel, and really its a love story between a young muslim azeri man and a christian georgian woman. But it is a romance, and a journey through the caucasus, and a love story of operatic proportions.
Part touching love story, part description of the contrasting cultures in this part of the world, set against the outbreak of the first world war and the russian revolution, and its effects. Try searching on jstor for other items related to this book. Buy ali and nino by kurban said, in very good condition. Ali and nino by kurban said meet your next favorite book. Ali is a muslim, with his ancestors passion for the desert, and nino is a christian georgian girl with sophisticated european ways. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 288 pages and is available in paperback format. When the controversial tale of love within ethnic boundaries was first published in. What is beautiful about their love at the beginning is how uncomplicated it is. Set on the caspian sea, the novel symbolizes the clash of cultures between. Combining the exotic fascination of a tale told by scheherazade with the range and magnificence of an epic, ali and nino is a timeless classic of love in the face of war. Ali and nino a love story by kurban said translated by jenia graman anchor books, 277 pp.
Zhivago and romeo and juliet its mysterious author was recently the subject of a feature article in the new yorker, which has inspired a forthcoming biography. Ali and nino is the epic novel of enduring romance in a time of war. A love story has 5 available editions to buy at half price books marketplace. The sweeping tale of love challenged by war, as romantic and gripping as gone with. But in my opinion it is much more than just a love story. The romance between the azerbaijani muslim ali and the georgian christian nino in baku in the wake of world war i obliges the partners to bridge the wide gulf between their two cultures even in a world where. Ali and nino grow up together in carefree innocence in baku, on the caspian sea. There is perhaps no better introduction to the caucasus than reading the fictional ali and nino 1937, by kurban said pseudonym for lev nussimbaum.
Ali and nino, two lovers from vastly different backgrounds, grow up together in carefree innocence in baku on the caspian sea. The novel has since been published in more than 30 languages. About the author kurban said was the pseudonym of lev nussimbaum, who grew up in baku and died in italy in 1942. A love story, kurban said ali and nino is a novel about a romance between a muslim azerbaijani boy and christian georgian girl in baku in the years 19181920. Set in the years surrounding the russian revolution and the rise of the soviet. The young protagonists reflect the tensions of east and west in times of joy and despair, showing that love can rise above ideology and centuriesold hatred.