This is an interesting book.
Alev Scott roams around the former Ottoman Empire speaking to as many as possible, at least those who would speak, about their life today, and their intriguing double life. A double life in that so many are born in one country yet long to be 'at home' in another.
From Turkey, a nation she finds herself banned from re-entering, and the complex population, including some Afro-Turks, descendants of one time slaves, living at the poorer end of Turkish society. Few Turks know of their existence. We meet Greeks in Turkey and Turks in Greece, though the majority were 'exchanged' during the conflicts of the 1920s, a conflict begun by Lloyd George! The descendants often confused as to where home lies. Armenians, with much to grumble about, and the confusion of Cyprus and the politics involved there.
Many do not realise how much of the Balkans was Ottoman controlled, only the war of 1912 saw them pushed back to the area around Istanbul. This leaves a confused area behind. Some loyal to Turkey, and Erdogan ensues such loyalty by large spending in some areas, many strong opponents. No matter who is in charge the Balkans will always be filled with a variety of conflicts, large and small, usually between close neighbours.
What is clear is the variety of religious and language divisions in the Middle East, in this case emanating from the Ottoman Empire. For many this was no problem, Muslim, Christian and Jew, went their own way worked, ate, lived alongside one another, under whatever controlling body. Rarely did strife break out. Since the end of the 'Sick man of Europe,' after the Great War, the conflict intensified, thousand died in battle and massacre on both sides, many removed from homes lived in for generations, as the area is purified.
This is a good book, it gets close to those who's families were forced to move, to people seeking a return that is never going to be possible, and an underlying image of the majority willing to just get on with their lives no matter who the neighbour is.
This is a good book for getting to the people on the ground in the one time Empire, real people, not the high up's. It is well worth a glance.
As the threatened rain had not started, it awaited the afternoon to arrive, I dumped my bag by the door after returning from Sainsburys and wandered across the park. It was good just to walk around the green area. Not the greatest in the world, but a lot of green trees, leaves, bushes, grass, and as such is just a wee bit refreshing for the mind.
I also met a young lass with two dogs, one friendly the other not so. He, now 11 years of age, was interested only in chasing the ball she flung via one of those long plastic throwers things. For an 11 year old dog he was full of life, and I suspect will be for 3 or 4 more. The other, one of those hairy imitation 'Chow' type dogs, lovely to look at, and keen to meet people. I suspect at home he sits on the couch on top of the lassie. The other will just dump himself on the floor and ignore everyone.
Some colour to be seen, but the cheap camera I was using found the grey cloud cover difficult to defeat. Most wildflowers appear hidden now, the Springtime brings them out, but these days we only have a few around.
Albert Goodwin - Venice
