The Critical Corner

Armenian literary criticism by Eddie Arnavoudian and others.

Yeroukhan’s “The Amira’s Daughter” — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2000-01-13
Nar Tos, Arpiarian, Mouratzan — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2000-01-27
The Future of Armenian Architecture in North America — Antoine Terjanian, 2000-02-20
Mikael Nalpantian’s “Selected Works” — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2000-02-21
Dzaroukian, Mahari, Bedrossian, Medieval Songs — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2000-03-05
Arisdaghes Lasdivertzi’s “The History” — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2000-04-03
Kalaidjian’s “An Armenian: ‘Suffragette’ Serpouhi Dussap” — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2000-04-16
Tekyan, Haddejian, Melik-Ohanchanian — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2000-04-23
4D-MoreD: A First for Father and Son: Artist to Artist — Talar Sesetyan, 2000-04-26
Vahe Berberian’s “In the Name of the Father and of the Son” — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2000-05-15
Kotchar, Alazan, Yessaian — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2000-05-24
Soukiasian, Antonian — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2000-06-21
Zeitountzian, Asadour, Abovian — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2000-07-11
Dora Sakayan’s “Modern Western Armenian” — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2000-08-09
ANN/Groong – TCC - Pavsdos Puzant’s History of the Armenians — 2000-08-16
Art of Medieval Manuscripts, Mgrditch Armen — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2000-08-24
Ghevond’s “The History” — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2000-09-18
Toumanian, Zohrab — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2000-09-25
Cheogyurian, Arpiarian — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2000-10-23
Zabel Yessaian: Exiled Soul, Last Chalice — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2000-11-06
Silva Kapoutikian - A Re-Evaluation — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2000-12-18
Vasken Chaloyan’s “The Armenian Renaissance” — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2001-02-05
Yeroukhan, Ani - Monument to Armenian and Human Civilization — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2001-02-23
Khorenatsi’s “The History of the Armenians” — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2001-03-12
Agatangeghos’ “The History” — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2001-05-01
Assadrian on Sevajian, Terlemezian on Komitas — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2001-05-21
Vatche Nalpantian’s `Krikor of Narek’ — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2001-07-05
Hovhan Mamikonian’s `The History of Taron’ — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2001-08-07
Shirvanzade, Zorian, Paramaz — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2001-08-28
Khazar Barpetzi’s “The History of the Armenians” — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2001-10-19
Henrik Malyan, Manoug Abeghian — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2001-11-12
Yeghishe’s “The Story of Vartanantz” — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2001-12-30
Aksel Bakoontz’s “Inheritance” — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2002-02-13
Shoushanian, Tamrazian, Mahari — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2002-03-11
Book Review: Rediscovering Armenia — Katy Pearce, 2002-04-09
Rouben Sevak - the poet of innocent love and rebellion — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2002-04-10
The Turkish poet and the Armenian - Nazim Hikmet and Missak Medzarents — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2002-05-20
Mateos Zarifian - The Poet Who Defied Death — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2002-06-03
Raffi’s “Gharib Mshetsin”, Gostan Zarian’s “The Traveller and His Road” — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2002-06-10
Raffi – An Overview — Donald Abcarian, 2002-06-24
Garo Sassouni’s “A critical look at the 1915 Genocide” — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2002-07-22
Mahari’s “Life in Stalinist Labour Camps”, Ter Petrosian’s “Ancient Armenian Translations” — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2002-08-19
“Vahan Tekeyan” - A Confession in Poetry — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2002-09-26
Raffi – A Biography — Donald Abcarian, 2002-12-09
An Analysis of Atom Egoyan’s Film “Ararat” — Bedros Afeyan, 2002-12-11
In defence of the Armenian National Liberation Movement — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2002-12-30
Beast On The Moon: An Armenian Journey Of Self Discovery In America — Bedros Afeyan, 2003-01-08
Poetic Voice of Armenian National Liberation, Intro to History of Pan-Turkism — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2003-01-21
Reviews: In My Father’ Name - and - Black Dog of Fate — Bedros Afeyan, 2003-02-05
Hravart Hakobian’s ‘Art of Manuscript Painting in Vaspourakan’ — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2003-02-18
Review: The Armenian Question - A play by Bill Rolleri & Anna Antaramian — Bedros Afeyan, 2003-03-10
Letter by Komitas, Baghchinian’s ‘Sayat Nova’ — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2003-04-21
Sharourian’s Srpouhi Dussap - her life and work — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2003-05-19
Book Review: “The Road to Home” by Vartan Gregorian — Bedros Afeyan, 2003-06-16
Raffi’s “The Fool” — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2003-06-30
A Forgotten Heritage: Shushanik Kurghinian — Shushan Avagyan, 2003-07-15
Goryoun’s “The Life of Mashtots” — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2003-07-28
Ussher’s An American Physician in Turkey" and Knapp’s “The Tragedy of Bitlis” — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2003-08-19
Hagop Oshagan’s “The Humble Ones” — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2003-09-09
Daniel Varoujean: Keeper of The Faith in The Human Dream - Part I — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2003-10-20
Politics Under 180’ — Angela Harutyunian, 2003-10-27
The New Voice: Gohar Markosian-Kasper — Shushan Avagyan, 2003-12-22
Daniel Varoujean: Keeper of The Faith in The Human Dream - Part II — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2003-12-27
Armen Aivazyan’s “The Armenian Church At the Crossroads of the 18th Century Armenian Liberation Movement” — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2004-01-21
Antranig Chalabian’s “Revolutionary Figures” — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2004-02-02
The Women of our Awakening — Hermig Yogurtian, 2004-02-09
Compressing Time, Expanding Horizons: The Armenian Film Festival of San Francisco in February 2004 — Bedros Afeyan, 2004-03-01
Hagop Oshagan’s “Hadji Murad” — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2004-03-08
Azat Yeghiazarian’s “XXth Century Armenian Literature: issues and authors” — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2004-04-19
Armen Aivazian’s ‘Essential Elements for Armenia’s National Security Doctrine: Part I’ — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2004-05-10
A Conversation with Dionne Haroutunian, Founder of Sev Shoon Arts — Shushan Avagyan, 2004-06-14
A Captive of the Caucasus — Shushan Avagyan, 2004-06-28
Professor Levon Katcheryan’s “The Armenian Pantheon” — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2004-06-29
Gourgen Mahari’s “The Burning Orchards” — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2004-07-14
Hovanness Traskhanagerdtzi’s ‘History of the Armenian People’ — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2004-08-01
Three Plays By Lorne Shirinian — Bedros Afeyan, 2004-09-06
Bishop Sebeos’ `History’ — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2004-09-08
V. Shoushanian’s ‘Diary’, and Theater and Literature in the Armenian National Revival — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2004-09-20
Review: The Armenian Genocide: A New Brand of Denial by the Turkish General Staff - by Proxy — Prof. Vahakn Dadrian, 2004-09-22
Sharourian’s Bio of Tourian, Leo’s Bio of Ghazaros Aghayan — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2004-10-04
Shirvanzade’s “In the Furnace of Life” and “Arampi” — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2004-11-08
Shirvanzade’s “Selected Works” — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2004-12-07
Asoghig’s “The Universal History” — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2004-12-31
The Keepers Of Our Letters — Shushan Avagyan, 2005-01-10
Garden Dwelling by Tina Bastajian — Bedros Afeyan, 2005-01-31
Daniel Varoujean: Keeper Of The Faith In The Human Dream - Part III — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2005-02-07
Hratchig Simonian’s “Antranig and His Times” — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2005-02-28
Zarevant’s “For A United and Independent Turania” — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2005-03-21
Analyzing The Beast (Kalinoski’s Beast on the Moon) — Shushan Avagyan, 2005-03-23
Markar Melkonian’s “My Brother’s Road” — Bedros Afeyan, 2005-04-04
Interview with Beast on The Moon’s David Grillo & Larry Moss — Nancy Agabian, 2005-04-11
Zabel Yessayan and Murad’s “Murad’s Journey” — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2005-04-19
Anahit Sahinian’s “Crossroads” — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2005-05-24
Azarian’s “Cilician Armenian Miniature Painting” — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2005-06-27
Diana Der-Hovanessian’s “The Other Voice” — Shushan Avagyan, 2005-06-28
Yeghishe Charents: Poet Of Life As Permanent Revolution (Part I)" — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2005-07-11
A DVD Review Of “I Hate Dogs/Back To Ararat” — Bedros Afeyan, 2005-07-25
Book Review: A Hair’s Breadth From Death — Narini Badalian, 2005-08-08
Raffi’s “Jalaleddin” — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2005-08-10
Yeghishe Charents: Poet Of Life As Permanent Revolution (Part II) — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2005-10-10
Manuel Zulalian, and Vladimir Giragossian’s Biography of Rouben Sevak — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2005-11-07
Two DVD Reviews - Artinian and Goudsouzian Documentaries — Bedros Afeyan, 2005-12-13
Daniel Varoujean: Keeper Of The Faith In The Human Dream - Part IV — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2005-12-31
I Want to Live: Poems of Shushanik Kurghinian — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2006-02-27
Berj Broshian: 19th Century Armenian Novelist: Conservative or Progressive? — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2006-03-21
“The Perils Of Politeness Live On” By Bianca Bagatourian — Bedros Afeyan, 2006-04-03
Peering Beyond Pyrrhic Victory: The Armenian Genocide — Bedros Afeyan, 2006-04-12
Virapian’s “The Armenian-Georgian War of 1918” & Sassooni’s “The Armenian-Turkish War of 1920” — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2006-05-08
Martin Barooshian Retrospective at ALMA — Gina Ann Hablanian, 2006-05-15
Hratchig Simonian’s “Antranig and His Times - Volume II” — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2006-06-12
Yeghishe Charents: Poet Of Life As Permanent Revolution (Part III) — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2006-07-24
Bedros Tourian’s `Collected Works’ — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2006-09-11
Anahit Sahinian’s `Longing’ — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2006-10-04
Hagop Baronian’s “Honorable Beggars” and “Baghdassar Aghbar” — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2006-11-14
Screamers: Louder Is Definitely Better — Bedros Afeyan, 2006-12-05
Priestess Comes and Goes Speaking of Agathangelos — Bedros Afeyan, 2007-03-12
Vahram Dadrian’s “To the Desert: pages from my diary” — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2007-04-02
LEO: Part One — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2007-06-04
LEO: Part Two — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2007-07-09
Grigor Narekatzi’s “The Book of Lamentations” — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2007-08-28
Hrant Armen’s “Tigran The Great” and Shahaziz’s “History of Yerevan” — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2007-11-12
Shirvanzade - Memoirs And Travel Notes — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2007-12-10
Vahan Derian And Three Kindred Spirits — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2008-01-14
Vahan Rshdouni’s “From the History of Armenian Social Trends” — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2008-02-21
Kemal Yalcin’s “You Rejoice My Heart” — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2008-03-10
Mateos Ourhayetzi’s “The Chronicle” — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2008-05-26
Baron Garbis is Alive and Well in BH — Bedros Afeyan, 2008-06-08
Sountougian’s ‘Bebo", Demirjian’s “Nazar The Brave” — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2008-07-21
A Taste Of Medieval Armenian Poetry - Part One: Frik and Gostantin Yerzngatsi — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2009-01-26
Four Giants of Armenian Intellect and Literature — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2009-03-02
A Taste Of Medieval Armenian Poetry - Part Two: Hovanness Tlgouratzi and Kirkoris of Akktamar — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2009-03-23
Books From The Third Republic: Ouloubabian’s “History of Artsakh” — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2009-05-25
Giragos Gantzagetzi’s `History of the Armenians’ — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2009-07-27
Vahan Derian’s Protest Against The Fragmentation Of Being — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2009-09-21
Barouyr Sevak - Part One: The Poet As Political Activist — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2009-12-07
Part Two: A Taste Of Armenian Drama — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2009-12-22
Books From The Third Republic — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2010-01-19
The Plight Of Armenians Under Georgian Rule and The Cultural Barbarism Of The Young Turks — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2010-02-02
Sarkis Mehrabian’s `Vartan of Khannassor’ and Souren Bartevian’s Short Stories — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2010-03-09
The Dark Valley: Short Stories by Aksel Bakunts — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2010-04-13
Charents: In Search Of My Armenian Poet — Bedros Afeyan, 2010-04-26
Arandzar and Berj Broshian — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2010-05-17
Hovannes Toumanian - Poet Of A People - Part I — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2010-06-14
Hovannes Toumanian - Poet Of A People - Part II — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2010-07-20
Hovik Grigorian’s “Financing The Revolution” — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2010-09-08
Beast On The Moon In West Hollywood In 2010 — Bedros Afeyan, 2010-10-04
The Art of Book Printing The Church and Armenian Nation-Formation — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2010-10-18
The Universities of Gladzor and Datev — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2010-11-22
`Tigran II and Rome’ by Hagop Manantian — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2011-01-31
Hovanness Hovannissian’s `Selected Works’ — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2011-05-02
Tevoyan on Reteos Berberian, and Tamrazian on Vahan Derian — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2011-05-02
Grandma’s Tattoos - A Film by Suzanne Khardalian — Bedros Afeyan, 2011-09-22
`Memories and Conversations’ by Nvart Toumanian — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2011-10-25
`Pghte’ by Berj Broshian — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2011-11-07
Armenia’s Russian Problem - A Historical Overview — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2011-12-05
`Ghazaros Aghayan’ by Ardashes Hakobjanyan — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2012-01-23
`Parasites’ by Berj Broshian — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2012-03-19
`Armenian capitalists and financiers in Baku’s oil fields’ by Khatchadour — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2012-07-02
Vrtanness Papazian and Kevork Matoyan’s `Daniel Varoujean’ — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2012-10-22
Rouben Vorperian: Journeys Without Joy — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2012-11-19
`Family, Honour, Morality’ by Yervant Odian — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2013-01-21
Vicken Chaldranian’s latest film: The Sound of Silence — Bedros Afeyan, 2013-01-31
`Wounds of Armenia’ by Khachadour Abovian — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2013-02-18
Chris Bohjalian’s The Sandcastle Girls — Christopher Atamian, 2013-02-19
A Dimly Lit Drone Bombs: All the Light that Was by Nancy Kricorian — Bedros Afeyan, 2013-04-02
Review of Agop J. Hacikyan’s “The Lamppost Diary” — Christopher Atamian, 2013-05-27
Tovma Medzopetsi’s Chronicle Of The Final Destruction Of Armenia — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2013-06-03
M. K. Nersissian’s `The Armenian National Liberation Movement - 1850-1890’ — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2013-06-10
Asdghig Kevorkian’s “Armenian Miniature Paintings” and Anahit Sahinian’s `Autobiographical Essay’ — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2013-07-29
So You Want to Be a Toastmaster? (Eric Boadella’s “Toastmaster” film) — Bedros Afeyan, 2013-09-29
Stars of the Armenian Enlightenment: Mesrop Taghiatian and Stepannos Nazaryants — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2013-12-16
Shmavon Torosyan’s `The National Liberation Movement of Cilician Armenians - 1919-1920’ — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2014-02-28
Leo’s second and third volumes of Krikor Ardzrouni’s Biography — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2014-07-28
Cilician Armenians and the Genocide — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2014-08-27
One Nation, One Music! The uniqueness of Komitas — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2014-10-31
Zoryan: chronicles of the early 20th century — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2015-03-02
ANN/Groong – TCC - `Baku 1905’ - savagery in the Caucasian family - Part One - Eddie Arnavoudian — 2015-03-23
ANN/Groong – TCC - `Baku 1905’ - savagery in the Caucasian family - Part Two - Eddie Arnavoudian — 2015-03-30
The way we lived then: In remembrance of the victims of the 1915 Armenian Genocide — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2015-04-24
CinemaArmenia, San Francisco, CA May 15-17: A Review) — Bedros Afeyan, 2015-05-26
Arminé, Sister: An Effusion of Embarrassment of Riches in a `Poor Theatre’ — Bedros Afeyan, 2015-06-08
`The Daredevils of Sassoon’ - A Superb Study and Three Essays — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2015-07-06
Contemporary recollections of Missak Medzarents and Daniel Varoujean — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2015-07-13
`History of the House of Ardzroun’ by Tovma Ardzrouni — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2015-10-23
`Abcai: circles of dying’: a novel about the enemy within — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2015-11-03
Krikor Ardzrouni: 19th century champion of Armenian national democratic thought — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2015-12-21
Tlgadintsi: Champion of an Armenian national literature — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2016-02-15
`The History’ by Arakel Tavrizhetsi — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2016-02-29
Grigor Narekatsi and the Armenian Renaissance — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2016-07-06
Vigen Chaldranian’s The Silence of the Priest or Alter Ego — Bedros Afeyan, 2016-07-07
H Boghossian’s `The History of Sasun’ — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2016-09-12
Mkrtich Armen - the artist, and Krikor Narekatzi’s impact on the evolution of Armenian literature — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2016-10-30
Notes for a reading of the `Book of Lamentations’ by Narek - Reading One — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2016-11-07
Notes for a reading of the `Book of Lamentations’ by Narek - Reading Two, Elegies 6-10 — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2016-11-13
Notes for a reading of the `Book of Lamentations’ by Narek - Reading Three, Elegies 11-15 — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2016-11-21
Notes for a reading of the `Book of Lamentations’ by Narek - Reading Four, Elegies 16-20 — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2016-11-28
The 1905 Russian Revolution - and - Aharonian on Ozanian — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2016-12-05
Hovhannes Grigoryan’s `Never Die - this is what I have to say’ — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2017-01-31
Armenian poetry in the 16th and 17th centuries — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2017-04-17
“The Promise” is a Promise Well Kept — Bedros Afeyan, 2017-04-24
Notes for a reading of the `Book of Lamentations’ by Narek - Reading Five, Elegies 21-25 — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2017-06-26
The Daredevils of Sassoun Ride Again! — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2017-11-20
A History of Armenian Critical Thought - Part 2 — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2018-05-07
A History Of Armenian Critical Thought - Part 1 — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2018-07-02
A History Of Armenian Critical Thought - Part 3 — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2018-08-27
The Armenian Short Story 1 - Hamasdegh (1895-1966) — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2018-09-10
A BRIDGE TO THE RADICAL DEMOCRATS: Two Armenian Enlightenment stars: Mesrop Taghiatian and Stepannos Nazaryants — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2018-10-29
A Review of Secret Nation The Hidden Armenians of Turkey by Avedis Hajian — Rubina Sevadjian Kingwell, 2019-05-01
Twelve Segments from Raffi’s novel `Sparks’ — Forwarded by Eddie Arnavoudian on behalf of Donald Abcarian, 2019-05-13
The Betrayal of the Armenian Fedayeen - Part 1 — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2019-10-28
The Betrayal of the Armenian Fedayeen - Part 2 — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2019-11-18
The Betrayal of the Armenian Fedayeen – Part 3 — 2019-12-13
Daniel Varoujean: keeper of the faith in the human dream - Part V — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2019-12-31
The Betrayal of the Armenian Fedayeen - Part 3 — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2019-12-31
Watch the movie `Rappping Under Fire’ DO! — Bedros Afeyan, 2020-09-20
Nerses Shnorhali: consolidating foundations of statehood — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2021-11-08
Anahit Sahinyan reveals the origins and nature of the Armenian Republic’s ruling elites — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2021-11-15
Vaghtang Ananian - for peace and harmony between humanity and the natural world — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2021-11-22
Stepan Zorian: An Outstanding Soviet Era Novelist’s Posthumous Works — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2021-11-28
Where is a Yervant Odian for our 21st century! — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2021-12-06
On the collapse of the 1918 First Republic and the 1921 Russo-Turkish Treaty of Kars – Part I — 2021-12-19
On the collapse of the 1918 First Republic and the 1921 Russo-Turkish Treaty of Kars – Part II — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2021-12-19
“Where The Horizon Ends” - a Novel by K. Gyulnazaryan — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2022-01-14
Azat Yeghiazaryan’s “The Golden Age of Armenian Poetry” — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2022-02-01
A controversial and provocative thinker for our times: Arsen Tokhmakhian — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2022-04-05
“The Gardens of Silihdar” - an Autobiography by Zabel Yessaian — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2022-06-29
Syunik in the 9th and 10th Centuries - a statelet in crisis — 2022-11-30
The Uprising of the Armenian Lords of Garabagh-Gaban — 2022-12-31
An Outstanding Demographic Study of 17-18th Century Eastern Armenia — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2024-06-22
Edgar Baghdasaryan’s Yasha and Leonid Brezhnev — Bedros Afeyan, 2024-11-20
A Critical Essay on the movie Ojakh: A Marvel to Behold — Bedros Afeyan, 2025-12-15
Anastas Mikoyan - A Radical Reevaluation - Review of Pietro Shakarian’s book “Anastas Mikoyan: An Armenian Reformer in Khrushchev’s Kremlin” — Eddie Arnavoudian, 2025-12-16

H Boghossian's `The History of Sasun'

Why we should read… ‘The History of Sasun’ by H Boghossian (360pp, 1985, Yerevan) The history of the Ottoman occupied western Armenian region of Sasun, like the history of 19th and early 20th century Ottoman occupied Armenia is also in part the history of the rise of modern Turkish nationalism that embedded in the Ottoman State set about the destruction of any and all manifestations of Armenian national economic, social and cultural development....

Vigen Chaldranian's The Silence of the Priest or Alter Ego

A true artist senses the flow of living strife, feels each molecule react to the impulse and force of being, wishing, wanting, screaming in silence, and launches war on ignorance and apathy with each breath. Every artist worth his salt misses no nuance and feels every injustice scratch his heart, wound his soul, sand his senses to the oblivion he will not espouse. Vicken Chaldranian is a living, burning artist and we are lucky to have him fighting the good fight....

Grigor Narekatsi and the Armenian Renaissance

This is the text of a talk I gave on ‘Grigor Narekatsi and the 10-14th Century Armenian Renaissance’. It was delivered on Sunday 13 March at ‘Centre for Armenian Information & Advice’ (CAIA) in London and was one in a series on ‘Armenian History, Culture and Heritage’ enriched by many speakers and participants. I open with thanks to the Centre and to the Centre Director Misak Ohanian in particular for inviting me to speak....

`The History' by Arakel Tavrizhetsi

Why We Should Read… ‘The History’ by Arakel Tavrizhetsi (592pp, Sovetagan Grogh, 1988, Yerevan) `The people were desperately in need of a Moses, but none was to be found.’ Arakel Tavrizhetsi (c1590-1670) is the last in the cycle of the great classical Armenian historians. Closing the medieval age his ‘History’ moves in the same groove as that of his sole significant predecessor Tomas Medzopetsi (1378-1446). Covering the first six decades of the 17th century, in Tavrizhetsi too, social, demographic and economic collapse across historical Armenia constitutes a dominant narrative....

Tlgadintsi: Champion of an Armenian national literature

Worth a read… Not necessarily masterpieces or artistically outstanding. Yet none will disappoint the lover of literature. Reading them one will always find something of value… Champions of an Armenian national literature Tlgadintsi (Hovhanness Harutyunyan - 1860-1915) was the outstanding figure of that group of pre-Genocide western Armenian writers whose central artistic concern was the lives of the Armenian common people in their native western Armenian provinces of the Ottoman Empire....

Krikor Ardzrouni: 19th century champion of Armenian national democratic thought

Leo’s three volume biography of Krikor Adrzrouni (1845-1892), outstanding warrior editor, battling journalist and founder in 1872 of what was to become the first Armenian daily newspaper, opens with an account of his grandfather Gevorg’s emigration from Ottoman occupied Van to Tsarist occupied Tbilisi and of his various grand business and educational ventures there. It is a prologue that encapsulates the peculiarities of Armenian nation formation that Krikor Ardzrouni’s tumultuous intellectual life and times was to epitomize....

`Abcai: circles of dying': a novel about the enemy within

There is in Armenia today something of an exciting literary revival. Its quality and its future are, however, far from secure, with much depending on whether the nation can be salvaged from the hyenas mercilessly devouring it. Nevertheless, and perhaps ironically, one manifestation of this revival is Mesrop Harutyunian’s wonderful short novel - ‘Abcai: circles of dying’ that illuminates the sordid and tragic truths of the late 1980s transition from the Soviet Armenian to the ‘independent’ Third Republic....

`History of the House of Ardzroun' by Tovma Ardzrouni

Why we should read… ‘History of the House of Ardzroun’ by Tovma Ardzrouni (560pp, 1985, Yerevan, University Press) A fractured and precarious statehood Tovma Ardzrouni’s 10th century ‘History of the House of Ardzroun’ (see Note 1) stands out among classical Armenian histories that usually bear all-encompassing titles such as ‘History of the Armenians’ or just plain ‘History’. Here instead is a proud celebration of a single aristocratic estate, written at perhaps its grandest moment....

Contemporary recollections of Missak Medzarents and Daniel Varoujean

Worth a read… Not necessarily masterpieces or artistically outstanding, yet none will disappoint the lover of literature. Reading them one will always find something of value… I. Contemporary recollections of Missak Medzarents and Daniel Varoujean Recollections about famous authors (‘Missak Medzarents and Daniel Varoujean: remembered by their contemporaries’, 1986, Yerevan, 344pp) are of course hugely valuable with multitudes of fact, incident, impression and anecdote serving a richer biographical canvas. But they do need to be read with judgement that distinguishes the authentic from the hagiographic, the honest from those jumping onto fame’s bandwagon, especially those so shameless with cheap claims of having been loved by the famous!...

`The Daredevils of Sassoon' - A Superb Study and Three Essays

Worth a read… Not necessarily masterpieces or artistically outstanding. Yet none will disappoint the lover of literature. Reading them one will always find something of value… ‘The Daredevils of Sassoon’ - a superb study and three essays I. Azat Yeghiazaryan’s ‘The Poetics of the Epic “Sasna Dzrer”’ (282pp, 1999, Yerevan) is a welcome reading of the Armenian national epic popularly known in English as ‘The Daredevils of Sassoon’. A literary critic and intellectual of the best sort, Yeghiazaryan with his customary temperate, gentle but erudite and perceptive intelligence draws out from an artistic and cultural examination those issues that touch on the concerns and the dramas of our own times....

The Critical Corner#

The Critical Corner