Ali and Nino—Azerbaijan

Hello, hello, Homo legens!

We are continuing to decolonise our shelves by reaching the end of letter A.

The life of author Kurban Said is surrounded by mystery–a story as exotic as his fiction, as an article in The New Yorker revealed.

A cultural odyssey, Ali and Nino is a novel of passion, identity, and the collision of civilisations. Set in early 20th-century Azerbaijan, it follows the romance between Ali, a Muslim from the East, and Nino, a Christian from the West. Lushly written and deeply evocative, this book captures a world on the brink of change, where love struggles to transcend borders.

Translated into 30 languages, Ali and Nino is widely regarded as a literary masterpiece and since its rediscovery and global circulation, which began in 1970, it is commonly considered the national novel of Azerbaijan.

There is a film based on the novel directed by Asif Kapadia in 2016:

https://youtu.be/eJLW_LuyKnE?si=D2EVuYEVYlI1s6oa

Come and join us for an imaginary trip to Azerbaijan!