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Book Review: 'The Martyred Armenian Writers 1915-1922'
By Rupen Janbazianon February 14, 2015, Armenian Weekly
http://armenianweekly.com/2015/02/14/martyred-writers/
The Martyred Armenian Writers 1915-1922: An Anthology
By Herand M. Markarian
Libra-6 Productions, N.Y. (Jan. 2, 2015); 250 pages
ISBN 9780692344767; $20.00
As Armenians around the world prepare to commemorate the Centennial of the
Armenian Genocide, writer and playwright Dr. Herand Markarian has taken on
the ambitious task of memorializing 13 of the most prominent Armenian
writers who were martyred in the genocide, in a new anthology entitled The
Martyred Armenian Writers 1915-1922.
[image: Cover of Markarian's 'The Martyred Armenian Writers 1915-1922: An
Anthology']
Cover of Markarian's 'The Martyred Armenian Writers 1915-1922: An Anthology'
Markarian's anthology, which was published by Libra-6 Productions in New
York earlier this year, begins with an introduction to Armenian history,
with a particular focus on the Armenians of the Ottoman Empire and the
evolution of Ottoman-Armenian literature. Markarian then gives readers a
concise, yet methodical history of the Armenian Genocide through eyewitness
accounts, and a chronology of events during the genocide based on the
memoirs of the Very Rev. Krikoris Balakian. Markarian also dedicates a page
to the different prison sites where Armenian writers and intellectuals from
Constantinople were detained starting on April 24 and later murdered.
The final hours of Taniel Varoujan, Rupen Sevag, and Indra (Dikran
Chrakian) are detailed through excerpts from Micheal Shamdanjian and Ohan
Bedigian, two eyewitnesses to the genocide.
Markarian then provides comprehensive biographies of the 13 martyred
writers--which include Rupen Zartarian, Kegham Parseghian, Yerukhan (Yervant
Srmakeshkanlian), Hrant (Melkon Gurjian), and Taniel Varoujan--and
highlights their literary characteristics and accomplishments.
Perhaps the biggest highlight in Markarian's anthology is his masterful
translation of the writers' works. The excerpts are carefully selected and
are wide-ranging in literary style and genre--from plays, (like Smpad
Pyurad's "The Eagle of Avarayr") to poems (Siamanto's "The Dance") and both
fiction (Krikor Zohrab's The Burden of Responsibility) and non-fiction
(Hrant's Lives of Bantookht).
Markarian has done an exceptional job in presenting nearly all facets of
Armenian literature at the time. The translations of the original Armenian
versions are done meticulously, and are vital to the success of this book.
As we approach the 100th anniversary of the night when most of the profiled
writers were arrested and subsequently murdered, Markarian's book proves to
be a fitting tribute to the martyrs of what is sometimes called our Red
Sunday.
From: A. Papazian
By Rupen Janbazianon February 14, 2015, Armenian Weekly
http://armenianweekly.com/2015/02/14/martyred-writers/
The Martyred Armenian Writers 1915-1922: An Anthology
By Herand M. Markarian
Libra-6 Productions, N.Y. (Jan. 2, 2015); 250 pages
ISBN 9780692344767; $20.00
As Armenians around the world prepare to commemorate the Centennial of the
Armenian Genocide, writer and playwright Dr. Herand Markarian has taken on
the ambitious task of memorializing 13 of the most prominent Armenian
writers who were martyred in the genocide, in a new anthology entitled The
Martyred Armenian Writers 1915-1922.
[image: Cover of Markarian's 'The Martyred Armenian Writers 1915-1922: An
Anthology']
Cover of Markarian's 'The Martyred Armenian Writers 1915-1922: An Anthology'
Markarian's anthology, which was published by Libra-6 Productions in New
York earlier this year, begins with an introduction to Armenian history,
with a particular focus on the Armenians of the Ottoman Empire and the
evolution of Ottoman-Armenian literature. Markarian then gives readers a
concise, yet methodical history of the Armenian Genocide through eyewitness
accounts, and a chronology of events during the genocide based on the
memoirs of the Very Rev. Krikoris Balakian. Markarian also dedicates a page
to the different prison sites where Armenian writers and intellectuals from
Constantinople were detained starting on April 24 and later murdered.
The final hours of Taniel Varoujan, Rupen Sevag, and Indra (Dikran
Chrakian) are detailed through excerpts from Micheal Shamdanjian and Ohan
Bedigian, two eyewitnesses to the genocide.
Markarian then provides comprehensive biographies of the 13 martyred
writers--which include Rupen Zartarian, Kegham Parseghian, Yerukhan (Yervant
Srmakeshkanlian), Hrant (Melkon Gurjian), and Taniel Varoujan--and
highlights their literary characteristics and accomplishments.
Perhaps the biggest highlight in Markarian's anthology is his masterful
translation of the writers' works. The excerpts are carefully selected and
are wide-ranging in literary style and genre--from plays, (like Smpad
Pyurad's "The Eagle of Avarayr") to poems (Siamanto's "The Dance") and both
fiction (Krikor Zohrab's The Burden of Responsibility) and non-fiction
(Hrant's Lives of Bantookht).
Markarian has done an exceptional job in presenting nearly all facets of
Armenian literature at the time. The translations of the original Armenian
versions are done meticulously, and are vital to the success of this book.
As we approach the 100th anniversary of the night when most of the profiled
writers were arrested and subsequently murdered, Markarian's book proves to
be a fitting tribute to the martyrs of what is sometimes called our Red
Sunday.
From: A. Papazian