Rivers weaves a dense, intricate tapestry of Armenian Christian lives set against larger political and social events…Rivers adeptly evokes the passions and enmities of family relations as the once-comfortable Kavafians try to adjust to their new, nightmarish reality. She also leavens the tale’s tragedy with flashes of wry humor.. . Rivers convincingly details her characters’ personal dilemmas and actions…A finely wrought, chilling tale of terror, slaughter and hardship and of the courage and endurance of those struggling to survive. — Kirkus Indie Reviews Read More…
In her powerful work of social history, Rivers identifies and deftly explores the tensions that brought suffering, violence and death to Armenians living in eastern Turkey in 1895. This well researched novel ….a splendid blend of fact and fiction…systematically builds in intensity toward its nail-biting conclusion. The author has clearly done her research into the events of a time period that many know little about. Her use of the vernacular of the people of the region adds to the authenticity of the story. The work is at its searing best when Rivers turns to …attempts to seek revenge… The loyalty of family, the gritty realities of life in times of turmoil, distrust and aching misunderstanding are all underlying themes of this engrossing work. …A heart-wrenching book that explores the very question many have wondered for generations: What is the cause of man’s inhumanity to man, and why do many refuse to see what is happening to them? … (a) stimulating and thought provoking read… Tracy Fischer, Clarion Review (Read More…)
April 2015 marked the centenary of the start of violence against Armenian Christians by Ottoman Turks in what is widely believed to be a genocide that resulted in 1.5 million (estimated) deaths. The lead-up to this dark chapter in history anchors this insightful debut work of historical fiction…the story systematically builds in intensity toward its nail-biting conclusion…a moving story of survival that shines light on how humanity manages to peek through, even in history’s darkest hours. — BlueInk Review (Read More…)
Peter Binzen, author and editor, Philadelphia Inquirer: Virginia Gavian Rivers has written a powerful historical novel that describes in harrowing detail the violence in eastern Turkey, particularly Erzerum, in October 1895. Prelude to Genocide:Incident in Erzerum is extremely well written. In 386 pages, I did not find a single cliche. All the sentences parse. No writer is more qualified to tell the story than Rivers. (She) is telling an extremely important story and in my opinion she tells it brilliantly. — The Beaumont News, December 2015, pp 6-7. (Read More…)
Compelling historical fiction with contemporary implications
I had the privilege of reading a pre-release version of this thought-provoking, thoroughly researched, and well-written book. As today’s political and religious strife captures our attention on a daily basis, it is useful to examine incidents of discrimination and violence against ethnic and religious minorities throughout history. The author has fictionalized her Armenian family’s story in the late nineteenth century Ottoman Empire, to help us understand how diverse communities can live peacefully with each other until underlying resentments are enflamed by political interests. The narrative feels compellingly real, as two families’ lives intersect and diverge towards a dramatic denouement. Compelling too are the individual characters, male and female, as they portray daily life in a small city inhabited by Christians, Muslims, and Jews in what is now eastern Turkey.