The evening was an opportunity for young intellectuals to share their impressions of the novel, which was originally published in 1881 under the title Khente. Abcarian’s new unabridged translation was released by the Gomidas Institute.

Sylvie Keshishian, an editor at Campaign magazine, was the first of two speakers. She spoke as a widely read nonspecialist. She was pleased to discover that The Fool was "a great novel, and it was impossible to tell that it was a translation."

Keshishian found that the novel provided a window into the lives and tribulations of Armenian villagers one hundred years ago. She was especially moved by Raffi’s descriptions of the domestic scene in Armenian households in the Alashgert region in the 1870s. Keshishian was struck by the doubly oppressive conditions of Armenian women.

Keshishian read several excerpts from the novel.

Gregory Topalian, a historian at the University of Southampton, spoke next. He said that Raffi "has the ability to make the reader want to find out more, which makes the book a real page turner."

Topalian reviewed the various characters in the novel:

Khacho, the head of the village, who is industrious and virtuous. He is in awe of titled people, however, and that is his undoing.

Vartan, the chief hero, who is in love with Khacho’s daughter. He seeks to save his people from the shackles of slavery, ignorance, and servitude. At the end of the novel he has a dream that represents a vision for the future of Armenia.

Dudukian, a serious young man, appreciated by Vartan for his new ideas and ideals, dismissed by the peasants as a fool, and brutally betrayed by Thomas Effendi.

Melik-Mansoor, who pretends to be a disabled seller of thread, but actually distributes weapons to the defenceless Armenians of the towns he traverses through.

Topalian found these heroic characters to be more one-dimensional than the villains:

Tomas Effendi, an Armenian employed by the Turkish authorities as a tax collector. He stands for everything that is corrupt and base.

Der Marook, the village priest, whose primary concern is the monies owed to him and the ability of Tomas Effendi to collect them.

Fattah Bey, a cruel Kurdish chieftain, who has designs on Khacho’s daughter Lala.

Topalian compared The Fool with the work of Gorky and Gogol. He argued that The Fool is still relevant today because the fool’s dream lives on and because "we still have Khachos who are impressed by titles and perceived success. Likewise we have plenty of Tomas Effendis and not enough Vartans and Dudukians."

Topalian concluded his presentation with the announcement that his English friends are getting copies of The Fool for Christmas.

The presentations were followed by a vigorous discussion; most of the audience stayed an extra hour to continue the discussion over coffee, tea, and crumpets.

The program was organised jointly by the AGBU (London), the Gomidas Institute (Princeton, N.J.) and Taderon Press (Reading, Berks).

Raffi, The Fool: Events from the Last Russo-Turkish War, 1877–78, translated by Donald Abcarian (Princeton, N.J.: Gomidas Institute, 2000) is available from the publisher for $20 plus $3 shipping. It can be ordered by calling 1-800-865-6405 (U.S. and Canada).

Books  |  Armenian Forum   |  Events  |  About  |   Updates

© 2000 The Gomidas Institute. All rights reserved.
Last modified on 05 May 2006.