Ali And Nino by Kurban Said

As a non-European living in Europe, the struggle for identity portrayed in this book feels deeply relatable. Ali and Nino is set primarily in Baku, Azerbaijan, and tells the story of two young lovers caught between European modernity and Asian traditions. Ali is Azerbaijani, a Muslim who loves the desert and sand. Nino is Georgian, a Christian who loves the trees and forests.

The book masterfully weaves the personal story of Ali and Nino with the broader history of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia, Persia, Dagestan, and, to some extent, Turkey. Taking place during World War I, it highlights the impact of the war on the region, from relative obscurity to multiple occupations and harrowing escapes.

After the first Russian occupation of Baku, Ali and Nino flee to Persia. There, Nino becomes deeply unhappy and begins to resent Ali. Life in Persia, with its strict societal norms, represents the full weight of Asian traditions for Nino: she must remain veiled, is confined to the home, and is restricted to her role as Ali’s wife. When they return to Baku, Nino suggests moving to Paris, but Ali declines, explaining that he would feel just as trapped there as she did in Tehran.

Their love was doomed from the start, as it was rooted in Baku—the European city in Asia. Only Baku could sustain their love, but Baku was under siege.

The tragedy of being caught between Europe and Asia makes this, for me, the greatest love story ever written.