Shamshone: Sun of Assyria: Five Generations of a Family from Iranian Azerbaijan

by Brian Hanson Appleton, Sam Sarmecanic (As Told by)

Overview

This is a biography and family history of five generations of an Assyrian Christian family as told through the eyes of the scion of their family Sam Sarmecanic. It begins with his grandparents generation and the flight to Iraq to escape genocide and covers his father's emigration to Chicago in the early 20th century by himself at age 9, his return to Urmia and Golpachan village as an adult, the agrarian life of seasonal migration between village and town, Sam's education in Tehran, his studies in London, his founding of a civil engineering firm which became one of the best in Iran, the revolution and emigrating with his family to San Jose, California to begin a new life.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780692873427
Publisher:	Brian H Appleton
Publication date:	05/15/2017
Edition description:	2nd ed.
Pages:	244
Product dimensions:	5.25(w) x 8.00(h) x 0.51(d)

About the Author

Brian H. Appleton, is an American writer who spent 20 years abroad, five of which were in Iran in the 1970's. He first visited Iran alone at age 16 for the summer in 1966 and his latest visit was in 2008. His first book also about Iran, about his own experiences there as an American is entitled Tales form The Zirzameen first published in 2007, now in its 3rd edition. It includes his account of the revolution of 1979 and five months after. He was briefly taken hostage and rescued by a heroic Iranian woman. He has written numerous articles for various Iranian American publications including Payam Javan, Payvand, Irandokht, Iranian.com, Persian Heritage Magazine, Persian Mirror. Other works include three volumes volumes of poetry and contributions to several anthologies such as Love and Pomegranites. Appleton was knighted in 2008 into the order of St John Hospitaller for his peace efforts between Iran and the USA. He also holds a BA in Anthropology from George Washington University and a Masters in Ancient History from University of Fundamental Knowledge Oxford network, St Petersburg, Russian Federation.

Sam Sarmecanic is the narrator of his own biography as it is told through his eyes in the first person. He started as the son of a farmer in a small village in Iranian Azerbaijan by the name of Golpachan and through determination and perseverance he went to high school and college in Tehran and grad school in London and founded a very successful civil engineering firm in Tehran which built most of the modern bridges and overpasses. His story is one of a Christian minority in a moslem majority nation. He lived through and witnessed some very interesting periods of modern Iranian history such as the 13 month independence of West Azerbaijan after WWWII as well as the 11 month independence of the Kurdish Republic of Mahabad. He also witnessed the entire Iranian revolution of 1979 eventually emigrating to California in its wake.

Table of Contents

Dedication page 9

Preface page 13

Introduction page 15

Golpashin page 19

Nimrud page 34

Adolescence page 54

Tehran page 99

Sam in London pg 142

Tehran Revisted pg 156

Life in America pg 202

Epilogue pg 213

Bibliography pg 215

Index pg 219

Editorial Reviews

"A moving story beautifully told. Brian Appleton has painted for us an exquisite portrait of the dispappearing multi-cultural society of the Middle East. He captures a reality that unfortunately threatens to vanish under the forces of intolerance and the drive for uniformity" John W. Limbert, Distinguished Professor of International Afairs at the US Naval Academy, Ambassador former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Iran in Department's Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs.

"What a wonderful project Brian has undertaken. I remember the Sarmecanic family well from Golpashan. Their house compound lay across the ruins of WWI houses from our house compound and right across from our orchard."

Dr. Eden Naby Frye, Center for the Study of World Religions at Harvard Divinity School

"This is a timely and fast-moving memoir of the political change, immigration and family life among the Assyrians of Rezaiyeh ( Urumia), many of whom moved to the United States over the years."

Hannibal Travis, Associate Professor of Law and interim Associate Dean for Informational Resources Florida International University, College of Law.

From the Publisher