Lydia’s Journey: The Story of an Armenian Refugee
By Katherine Covell
232 pages
Published 2023
Lydia’s Journey: The Story of an Armenian Refugee is a beautiful book inspired by an 800-word biography by author Katherine Covell’s eldest sister. It documents the story of Covell’s mother, Lydia Zakarian, a survivor of the Armenian Genocide who died in 1965.
Covell researched the book using letters that contained posthumous, second-hand memories of events during the Armenian Genocide. The book includes documents such as Zakarian’s high school diploma from the American High School for Girls in Aleppo, Syria.
Lydia’s Journey deals with the psychological aspect of the immense shame and guilt associated with the sexual abuse of Armenian women during the genocide. It includes background and psychological evaluations of the tattoo on Zakarian’s face. In one of the letters, Zakarian describes her life as a domestic slave. The branding of Armenian women and young girls had a tremendous impact on the psyche. It was a time when things were left unsaid and people suffered both internally and externally.
In a photo she wanted to show her future husband, the tattoo she endured is not visible because the photo was altered. However, the tattoo is visible in her 1959 citizenship papers. Zakarian’s marriage was arranged while she was in an orphanage in Aleppo.
“I suspect that Katherine Covell’s work as a developmental psychologist gave her insight into the effects of abuse,” said Tim Covell, the author’s son, who Weekly.
Although the story is based on true events, parts of the book alter events. Zakarian had four brothers and an older sister. None of them survived the horror of the Armenian genocide. In the book, she has a brother. Zakarian was sold into slavery by her father, but in the book, she was sold by her mother.
“The Kindertransports, which placed Jewish children in foster care in Britain and other countries, were a real historical event that Katherine incorporated into her novel. All characters involved are fictional and, as far as I know, the real Lydia was not involved in the Kindertransports,” said Tim Covell.
Lydia’s Journey is poignantly written and highlights many themes such as the desire to help others who need protection, something Armenian children were not able to experience. It also explores family dynamics and what was considered right and wrong at the time. The book introduces painful themes that the mind cannot comprehend.
Lydia’s Journey is available on Amazon and at Barnes and Noble.
Talar Keoseyan is a mother, educator, and writer. She is the author of Vanna’s Adventures (about Armenian traditions and customs); Mom and Dad, Why Do I Need to Know My Armenian Heritage? (a children’s book about being proud of your heritage); Our Tigran and Tigran’s Song (written in honor of Tigran Harutyunyan, a fedayeen from the 44-Day War). Talar was a member of the Philadelphia AYF (Papken Suni and Sebouh chapters), as well as Homenetmen, Hamazkayin, and ARS. She is currently a member of the ARS “Talin” chapter of La Crescenta. She can be reached at [email protected] or Hokees1111 on Instagram.
