Some Notes About Armenian Émigré (Diasporic) Literature

Abstract

The article focuses on Armenian émigré (diasporic) literature, which can be defined as a continuation of Western Armenian classical literature that emerged pri­marily as a consequence of the Armenian Genocide. Following this historical catas­trophe, large numbers of Armenians settled in different countries, particularly in the United States and France.

Among American-Armenian writers such as Hamastegh (Hambardzum Gele­nian), Vahe Haig (Vahe Dinjian), and Aram Haigaz (Aram Chekemian), one can ob­ser­ve the formation of a Literary Movement of Nostalgia, which may also be viewed as a part of Romanticism. These authors expressed a profound longing for their an­cest­­ral homeland, particularly Harput (Kharpert), renowned for its distinctive folk­loric and cultural life. Representative works include Hamastegh’s The Village (1924) and The Rain (1929), as well as Vahe Haig’s five-volume Fatherland’s Hearth (1935-1970). Their works demonstrate a strong sense of historical continuity and frequently function as literary chronicles intended to preserve the memory of the Armenian past.

In contrast, French-Armenian writers such as Shahan Shahnour (Shahnour Kerestejian) and Zareh Vorpuni (Zareh Oksyuzian) initiated a different literary ten-den­cy, which can be referred to as the Literary Movement of Retreat, characterized by elements of Realism and Surrealism. Their approach was more critical and ana­lytical, seeking to examine Armenian identity within a rapidly changing European context. Shahnour’s seminal novel Retreat Without Song (1929) may be regarded as a representative work of this movement.

A distinctive trajectory can be observed in post-World War II Istanbul Arme­nian literature, although this literary tradition is not usually classified as part of dias­poric literature. Developing in the specific cultural environment of Istanbul, it in­cre­asingly adopted a symbolic mode of literary expression. The poet and theorist Zareh Khrakhօuni (Arto Jumbushian) conceptualized this approach as “Objective Symbo­lism.” Writers such as Zahrad (Zareh Yaldizchian), Zareh Khrakhօuni, Igna (Igna­tios) Saryaslan, Rober Haddeciyan, and Zaven Piperian sought to interweave national concerns with universal human issues. In doing so, their works transcended the boun­daries of a specifically Armenian literary context and acquired a broader signifi­cance that could be accessible to international readers.

A further dimension of Armenian émigré literature is represented by Arme­nian foreign-language writers. The question of their literary and cultural belonging remains relevant today; nevertheless, their contribution to Armenian cultural history is undeniable. In some cases, the use of a non-Armenian language resulted from ex­ter­nal circumstances, including the writers’ social environment and education, as in the cases of William Saroyan, Michael Arlen, Peter Balakian, Antonia Arslan, and Carol Edgarian. In other cases, the choice of language was deliberate. Writers such as Shahan Shahnour, who wrote in French under the pseudonym Armen Lubin, and Leon Z. Surmelian, who wrote in English, used a foreign language to communicate Armenian experiences and themes to a broader international readership.

In conclusion, Armenian émigré literature constitutes a diverse and dynamic field. It is far from monolithic and opens numerous avenues for scholarly investiga­tion, particularly with regard to questions of identity, language, memory, cultural con­tinuity, and adaptation in exile.