Glendale Calif.--Donald Abcarian's translation of Raffi's classic novel, The Fool, made its southern California debut on 25 March 2001 in the Glendale Public Library auditorium. Mr. Abcarian was the featured speaker. The Los Angeles Westside Chapter of the AGBU sponsored the Sunday afternoon event.

Donald Abcarian in Glendale

Khente (The Fool) was first published in 1881, in Tiflis, which at that time had a large Armenian population and an active Armenian press. The author, Raffi, was instrumental in awakening a consciousness of ethnic and social status amongst the Armenians of his time. He succeeded not only because of the readable, exciting stories he wrote, but also by writing in the vernacular, easily understood by all Armenians. Armenians were able to identify with the characters and situations he described.

Raffi's work, and particularly The Fool, inspired each succeeding generation of Armenian readers. Among the admirers of The Fool was Mr. Abcarian's father. Mr. Abcarian told the audience that the memory of that admiration gave him added incentive to venture a translation of the novel.

Mr. Abcarian, who lives in Berkeley, California, was born in Fresno to parents who emigrated from Dickranagert and Kharpert. He graduated from the University of California at Berkeley with a degree in philosophy, and is, for all practical purposes, self-taught in Armenian.

Mr. Abcarian read some of his favorite passages from The Fool, after which questions from the audience prompted an interesting and instructive discussion about Raffi's works. Attending were also grand nieces and cousins of Raffi who now reside in the Los Angeles area, and who were thrilled at the renewed interest in their forebear's writing.

Nuritsa Ksachikyan gives her impressions of Raffi's novel.

Prior to the translator's remarks, Nuritsa Ksachikyan, a graduate of UCLA who attends Loyola Law School, gave her impressions of Raffi's novel. With great insight she explained how Raffi elucidated the social and political ills of his time and how he created colorful characters to serve as vehicles for his liberating ideas.

Following the question-and-answer period, those attending had their books autographed by Mr. Abcarian. Refreshments were served. In addition, an exhibition of photographs taken by Sevan Varteressian, featuring scenes of architectural detail, flora, and nature from Armenia, was enjoyed by all, reminding us of both our closeness and distance to Raffi's time.

Mr. Abcarian's translation of The Fool is available in bookstores. It can be ordered directly from the publisher by calling 1-800-865-6405 or writing <books@gomidas.org>.

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