AGBU's 86th General Assembly in Buenos Aires Also Serves as Venue for Launching of Two Books Perpetuating the Armenian Heritage

Author Margaret Ahnert Speaks at Launch of the Spanish Edition of "The Knock at the Door"

American-Armenian author Margaret Ajemian Ahnert launched the newly published Spanish edition of her novel, The Knock at the Door, at the Alex Manoogian Center on October 16, 2010, during the AGBU General Assembly weekend. In attendance at the event were President Berge Setrakian and wife Vera, members of the Central Board of Directors and Council of Trustees, as well as some 200 delegates, members and supporters of the organization from over a dozen countries. Also present were Archbishop Kissag Mouradian, Primate of the Diocese of Argentina and Chile, and Vladimir Karmirshalian, Armenia's ambassador to Argentina. Ahnert expressed her gratitude to the AGBU Buenos Aires Chapter members, assembly delegates, and especially Mrs. Setrakian for her generous support and encouragement for the realization of this project.

During her presentation, Ahnert explained the roots of her novel, which chronicles the harrowing experiences of her mother, Ester Minerajian, a survivor of the Armenian Genocide. The narrative weaves firsthand stories told by Ester about her miraculous escape as a 15-year-old girl who narrowly survived the Genocide, with the author's own thoughts on her connection to her mother, culture, and the memories of the tragedy that Ester lived with every day of her life.

The author also read excerpts from her text, sharing with her audience the authenticity of her work and its undeniable ability to foster human connection through both thought and emotion. Since its publication in 2007, Ahnert's story has been enrapturing readers, one of whom, Robert Morgenthau, the great-grandson of Henry Morgenthau, U.S. ambassador to Turkey during the Genocide, said that this book, to date, constitutes one of the most beautiful literary works dealing with the topic of genocide. Levon Sevunts, a Canadian journalist and talk show host, said, "For many today, Anne Frank is the face of the Jewish Holocaust. Margaret Ajemian Ahnert has given Armenians their own Anne Frank's Diary."

The book's translation into Italian and Spanish has allowed Ahnert to share her personal account with a much wider readership. Publication in Armenian, Russian, Dutch, French, and Turkish is underway too.

Ahnert's novel was honored as one of the Best Books of 2007 by USA Book News as a winning piece in History and Politics. It also won the distinction of "Best Historical Memoir" in the 2008 New York Book Festival.

Ahnert has a Master of Fine Arts degree from Goucher College and a BA from Goddard College. She is also a graduate of the Barnes Foundation. She has pursued a variety of careers: producing television documentaries, lecturing as a docent at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and teaching art appreciation through the Art Goes to School program in elementary schools.

This past July, for the second year in a row, Ahnert graciously volunteered to present her book at AGBU's Central Office in New York to an audience that included the participants of the New York Summer Intern Program (NYSIP). NYSIP has now adopted the presentation of Anhert's novel as an annual event for the internship program.

English Version of "Sabore Con Historia" Cookbook Unveiled

Presented on this same occasion was the English version of the attractive and unique cookbook prepared by the Buenos Aires Chapter and originally published in Spanish in 2008 under the title "Sabore Con Historia" (Tastes with History). The cost of the translation and printing was underwritten by Mrs. Vera Setrakian.

As stated in the Preface, "This book arose from the heart, from love for our sensitive and intelligent "chef" grandmothers, who knew how to turn their predecessors' legacies into cultural wealth, and who, without techniques or systemization, handed down to us all the secrets of the Armenian cuisine's values."

This book, whose composition was coordinated by Diana Kaprielian Sarafian, is not just a cookbook. Rather, it contains an overview, with a map, of the history and culture of Historical Armenia, including Cilicia; cities of the Ottoman Empire outside of Historical Armenia with large Armenian populations; present-day Armenia and Karabakh – serving as an introduction, in each case, to recipes for the preparation of native dishes and desserts. What's more, each entry is multiple, consisting of an appetizer, entrée and dessert, followed by easy-to-follow instructions. There are even special chapters on Great Lent (Medz Bahk), Boereks, and Sweet Table.

No matter what area and cuisine readers are interested in, they are bound to find it in this most comprehensive volume, as the following list of places attests: (1) Cilicia (Adana, Aintab, Hadjin, Kilis, Marash, Sis, Zeitoun); (2) Historical Armenia (Erzerum, Malatya, Mush, Urfa, Van); (3) Cities with large Armenian populations (Constantinople, Guesaria, Izmir, Kessab); (4) present-day Armenia (Etchmiadzin, Gyumri, Yerevan) and Karabakh.

Copies of both books are available from the AGBU Bookstore, which you may contact by email, bookstore@agbu.org, or phone, 212-319-6383.