This book provides a groundbreaking exploration of Azerbaijani literature as a vehicle for national identity formation, resistance, and reform from the nineteenth to the early twentieth century. It examines how writers, intellectuals, and reformers engaged with the region’s colonial divisions, the collapse of empires, and the rise of nationalist thought, shaping evolving discourse on selfhood and sovereignty. Following the treaties of Gulistan (1813) and Turkmenchay (1828), the Azerbaijan people were divided between Russian and Iranian rule, leading to fragmented cultural and political identities. Against this backdrop, literature became a means of articulating resistance, critiquing societal shortcomings, and envisioning a future of national self-determination. This book analyzes a range of literary and philosophical texts—including historical chronicles, satirical journals, and dramatic works—uncovering the tensions between tradition and modernity, colonial influence and indigenous reform, and gendered narratives of nationhood. By bridging historical, literary, and philosophical perspectives, this book offers fresh insights into Azerbaijan’s intellectual history, positioning its literary evolution within global discussions on postcolonialism, nationalism, and cultural memory. It is an essential resource for scholars of literature, history, and political thought, as well as readers interested in the intersections of identity and resistance in colonial and postcolonial contexts.

Shafag Dadashova is a Lecturer at ADA University in Azerbaijan, where she specialises in Azerbaijani literature, gender studies, and national identity. Previously, she was a Research Fellow at the University of Oxford’s Centre for International Gender Studies and Oriental Institute. Her scholarly work explores the intersections of literature, history, and identity, particularly in the postcolonial and post-Soviet contexts. She is the author of Azerbaijani Literature and the Gendered Narratives of Nationhood (2025), which examines evolving gender roles and national identity in Azerbaijani literary traditions from the twelfth century to the post-Soviet era.