High Fidelity
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January 18, 2014
Three-Volume Series of Contemporary Armenian Literature in English Sponsored by AGBU
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Ambassador of Ukraine to Armenia Alexander Bozhko addresses the crowd in Armenian. He spoke about the value of translating Armenian literature for foreign readers. -
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Poet Artem Harutiunyan giving an interview to a journalist about the recently published volumes on contemporary Armenian literature. -
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(From r. to l.) RA Deputy Culture Minister Karine Khodikyan, writer Aghasi Ayvazian, writer Davit Muradian, poet Artem Harutyunian, RA's National Academy of Sciences Azat Yeghiazarian during the book presentation in Yerevan on December 14, 2006.
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.
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