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PRESS RELEASE
Friday, January 19, 2006
Three-Volume Series of Contemporary Armenian Literature in English
Sponsored by AGBU
The presentation of a three-volume anthology of contemporary Armenian
literature in English translation took place on December 14, 2006, at
the Business Center of the American University of Armenia, at the
invitation of the Writers Union of Armenia and AGBU.
The preparation of the three volumes – drama, prose and poetry – took
two years, and their publication by the Writers Union was made
possible by a generous grant from AGBU.
Chairman of Armenia’s Writers Union, Levon Ananian, stated that, in
his opinion, this series includes the best works of Armenian
playwrights, poets and prose writers of Armenia, "With this
unprecedented attempt, we have proved that Armenian literature is
continuing its best traditions in the period of independence and today
we have high-quality literary works."
The volume of Armenian Drama contains the works of eleven modern
Armenian dramatists, including Perch Zeytuntsian, David Muradian,
Samvel Khalatyan, and others. Its editor is American Armenian
playwright, poet and director, Herand Markarian, who wrote a
comprehensive overview of the history of Armenian drama as an
introduction to the volume.
The book of Armenian Prose consists of works of nineteen Armenian
writers, including Hrach Matevossyan, Alvard Petrosyan, Mikayel
Abadjian. Its editor is Armenian Canadian writer and translator Agop
Hacikyan.
The volume of Armenian Poetry contains the works of 49 of the nation’s
premier poets, such as the late Silva Kaputikian, Rosa Petrosian, Yuri
Sahakian, Hrachya Tamrazian, Hovik Hoveyan, Artashes Ghazarian and
Narine Avetian, and includes several poems by Writers’ Union chairman
Levon Ananian himself. The editor of this volume is Armenian American
poet and translator Diana Der Hovanessian.
According to Ananian, this three-volume series is part of a larger
project that envisions additional publications of Armenian literature
in foreign languages, including several publications in Persian
(Farsi) and Russian, which are slated to go to press. Work is in
progress on volumes in the Arabic, Georgian and Spanish languages.
Representatives from the Writers’ Union and AGBU, as well as a number
of other creative unions, museums, higher educational institutions and
government ministries participated in the presentation. The event
began with the blessing and introductory remarks by Archbishop
Navasard Ktchoyan, Primate of the Araratian Patriarchal Diocese, and
included speeches by Alexander Bojko, Ambassador of the Ukraine to
Armenia; Karine Khodikyan, Deputy Minister of Culture of the Republic
of Armenia; Azat Eghiazarian, Director of the Armenian Institute of
Literature; S. Peter Cowe, Narekatsi Chair and Professor of Armenian
Literature at the University of California, Los Angeles; and Edward
Militonian, State Publishing Agency head. Each speaker not only
welcomed the publications, but also addressed the value of developing
the art of translation and presenting Armenian literature to foreign
readers.
Established in 1906, AGBU () is the world’s largest
non-profit Armenian organization. Headquartered in New York City with
an annual budget of $36 million, AGBU preserves and promotes the
Armenian identity and heritage through educational, cultural and
humanitarian programs, annually serving some 400,000 Armenians in 35
countries.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
