The handwritten note "A most interesting & almost certainly true story of an Armenian boy from Trebizond who, after losing both his parents in the 1915 deportations/massacres, eventually ended up in the U.S.A.“ was what initially drew my attention when handed a first UK edition of Leon Surmelian’s classic I Ask You, Ladies and Gentlemen. These words were inscribed on the flyleaf of the book by its previous owner, Sir Denis Arthur Wright, the former British Ambassador to Iran, who happened to have served as vice-consul in Trebizond in the 1940s. The second thing that crossed my mind was the question: why had I never heard of it? I was soon drawn into the personal journey of a nine-year-old boy; a heartwarming autobiographical account presented in a novelistic manner. I learned that the out-of-print book, first published in 1945, and a bestseller in its time, was internationally acclaimed and translated into many languages. In working with the Armenian Institute, we decided to bring back into publication this long forgotten masterpiece for the benefit of new generations. A small team was assembled and the strategy was twofold: to remain utterly faithful to the author’s original text while at the same time to provide the all-important historical context including relevant images, maps and a glossary of terms. We also periodically engaged with senior members of the family who graciously provided their support and additional information. What strikes the reader is the eloquent and profoundly sincere account of tragic and transformational events from the vantage point of a young boy. This is a beautiful book written with a great sense of humour and humanity. Furthermore, the dozen or so photographs reproduced at the end of this edition provide a visual record of the characters and places that populate its pages. One hundred years after the events it recounts so vividly, this timeless book continues to be extremely relevant today. It delves into the themes of forcible displacement, loss, trauma, memory, survival and ultimately, rebuilding. I Ask You, Ladies and Gentlemen is a gem in modern Armenian and American literatures. A must-read for everyone, it awaits re-discovery among new generations of readers. I Ask You, Ladies and Gentleman is available from the Armenian Institute book store for £12.99.
By Richard Anooshian
Originally published in Bardez, AI’s periodical in 2013-2020