Operation Nemesis (book)

Operation Nemesis: The Assassination Plot that Avenged the Armenian Genocide is a 2015 book by Eric Bogosian about Operation Nemesis, a plan to kill the perpetrators of the Armenian Genocide.

Background

Bogosian wished to make a film about Soghomon Tehlirian and so started a screenplay; this evolved into a book and he researched the wider Operation Nemesis for seven years.[1] Bogosian had initially believed that Tehlirian's killing of Talaat Pasha in 1921 was an urban legend.[2]

The author stated that the book production process had "radicalized" him in favor of ethnic Armenian political positions while previously he held a "pragmatic" point of view.[3]

Contents

The first part discusses the history of Armenia and the Armenian Genocide. The second part of the book discusses Operation Nemesis itself,[2] including a biography of the assassin,[3] the death of Talaat, and what occurred afterwards. Part three discusses the involvement of intelligence agencies in the operation,[2] as well as the other Operation Nemesis acts and what happened afterwards.[3] The bibliography and endnotes take up about 50 pages.[3]

Aram Kouyoumdjian of Horizon Weekly described the book as "factually driven" but also "a fast-paced, tension-filled, and altogether accessible work", and that it involved "complex geopolitics".[3]

Rupen Janbazian stated in the Armenian Weekly that the book, unlike many other English-language works, discusses the involvement of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) and how it purposefully used the assassinations to spread awareness of the genocide.[2]

Joseph Kanon of The New York Times stated that because assassinations to right wrongs can turn into terrorist movements, "To his great credit, Bogosian [...] refuses to portray Tehlirian or any of the other members of his group as heroes."[1]

Reception

Kanon praised the book's "gripping action accounts of Nemesis at work, and in the sober assessment of its terrible aftermath."[1] Kanon criticized the "historical narration" as he felt it sometimes goes into tangents and parts feel unnecessary.[1]

Janbazian wrote praise of the book and supported the level of historical detail in the book because "most readers do not have a sufficient understanding of Armenian history."[2]

Kouyoumdjian wrote that the book had "rigorous scholarly research" despite the author not having an academic background.[3]

Kirkus Reviews stated that the book is "Difficult reading, but an extremely well-written political statement about Turkey—not just then, but as it is now."[4]

Publishers Weekly stated that for readers unfamiliar with the subject it "is a highly readable introduction" while for readers who have familiarity "Bogosian has uncovered a little-known aspect of it in fascinating detail."[5]

References
  1. Kanon, Joseph (2015-04-19). "'Operation Nemesis,' by Eric Bogosian". The New York Times. Retrieved 2019-06-15.
  2. Janbazian, Rupen (2015-05-25). "Book Review: 'Operation Nemesis: The Assassination Plot That Avenged the Armenian Genocide'". Armenian Weekly. Retrieved 2019-06-15.
  3. Kouyoumdjian, Aram (2015-04-23). "Eric Bogosian on Writing 'Operation Nemesis' and How the Project 'Radicalized' and Changed Him". Horizon Weekly. Retrieved 2019-09-04.
  4. "OPERATION NEMESIS". Kirkus Reviews. 2015-01-22. Retrieved 2019-06-15. - Review date: February 1, 2015.
  5. "Operation Nemesis: The Assassination Plot That Avenged the Armenian Genocide". Publishers Weekly. 2015-03-16. Retrieved 2019-06-15.


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