Twelve Years Away from Constantinople, 1896-1908

Yervant Odian

translated from Armenian and introduced by Nanor Kebranian
London: Gomidas Institute, 2025,

xx + 274 pp.,

ISBN 978-1-909382-81-7, pb.,

UK£25.00 / US$30.00

To order please contact books@gomidas.org

FORTHCOMING

Twelve Years Away from Constantinople was an instant classic in its time. For well over a century, it has endured as a uniquely candid and entertaining account of Armenian émigré life during the reign of the authoritarian Ottoman sultan, Abdülhamid II. Best known for his trenchant satires, its extraordinarily cosmopolitan author, Yervant Odian, was and remains one of the most recognizable and active figures of his generation. His multifaceted international career as journalist and civil society leader embedded him deeply in Ottoman-Armenian intellectual and revolutionary circles both in Constantinople and well beyond. This remarkably unabashed memoir relates his observations as a well-loved and committed member of those inner circles. His twelve-year journey begins with the 1896 massacre of Armenians in the Ottoman capital, when Odian, like many of his contemporaries fled as a political refugee to safer shores. His migrations led him to Greece, Egypt, France, Austria, and England, where he witnessed and withstood the numerous hardships plaguing the Armenians of the ‘senior diaspora.’ With Nanor Kebranian’s masterful rendering and probing introduction, this work is now available for the first in English translation.

Introduction vii

Preface 3

Chapter 1: An attempt on Arpiar Arpiarian’s life. – "Take Arpiarian down!” – "Stop Reading Hayrenik!” – Hayrenik’s dominance. – Izmirilian’s election. – The role of Mihran Askanaz. – Arpiarian’s character. – A. Vramian. – The Babiali demonstration. – Threatening letters from the Tashnags. – The H. Shahnazar-Yousoufian incident. – The article in Hayrenik. – The murder of Dikran Karageozian. – The uprising in Zeitoun. – Arpiar flees Constantinople. – L. Pashalian departs. – The Hayrenik cohort dispersed. – Shahnazar incarcerated. – Hayrenik dissolves. – Vahé Arzouyan and his friends. – The incident involving Charlié. – The services rendered by Albert Rouet. – The women of the Henchag party. 5

Chapter 2: The Bank demonstration. – The mob. – On board the Sidon. – The sopacis try to storm the steamer. – Scenes of massacre. – The nightmarish night. – Robbing corpses. – Bloody Thursday. – The foreign interpreters’ visit. – The sick passenger. – I move from the Sidon to the Gironde. – At Moda. – The Tashnags who stormed the Bank board the steamer. – Hrach and Armen Garo. – Interaction with the Tashnags is prohibited. – In Izmir. – Song and wine. – The Gironde reaches Piraeus. – My short-lived heroism. 31

Chapter 3: In Athens. – Prime Minister Deligiannis. – The Athenians and the refugees. – The people of Divrig and Moush. – The prayer. – The Philanthropic Committee. – Threats and accusations. – Sensible people. – Krikor Meohtemetian. 57

Chapter 4: Dikran Yergat. – His lecture. – His illness. – The Belgian Antoine. – An epic plan. – Reteos Mouradian. – The paper Miyoutiun. – A bunch of stamp-collectors. – Nazarpeg’s bad example. – The patriotic Mr. Kokinos. – The Armenian refugees. – A week in Egypt. – The Kneipp regimen. – Arpiarian’s dream. – Reprobate refugees. – Departure from Athens. – The steamship Urania. – An alarming trip through Crete. – We reach Alexandria. 69

Chapter 5: The farm in Sharabas. – A strange way to hunt. – The fratricidal youth. – Execution by hanging. – A mother’s consolation. – A kind executioner. – Arpiarian in Egypt. – The Bolsetsis of Cairo. – Arpiarian at Sharabas farm. – Making dessert. – Arpiar’s ravings. – Nshan Keshishian. – A bitter illusion. – The fake hero. – The phony Haji Minas Oghlus and the genuine article. – A new life. – The novel Mardig Agha. – Mikayel Giurjian. 83

Chapter 6: Jangiulian in Egypt. – He is eagerly sought after. – "Masked Men.” – An incident. – Imprisonment and fine. – The Delegation’s decisions. – Diran Arpiarian’s homesickness. – He returns to Constantinople. – The Tower of Galata and the Eastern Question. – Dikran Yergat in Egypt. – Khazhag. – Friar Goundzig. – Departure from Egypt. – The desperate Italian. – Mgrdich Portoukalian. 101

Chapter 7: Arshag Chobanian’s room. – The enemy of Sahag and Mesrob. – One way of solving the Armenian Question. – Andronik Ianesco. – We leave together for Vienna. – Ianesco’s dictionary. – The Vienna Mekhitarists. – Several small incidents. – Rupture. – London. – Mrs. Raffi. – Arpiar in London. – Ohanchan’s linguistics. – A duel that does not take place. – The prerequisites for unity. 121

Chapter 8: The Armenians and the Dreyfus Affair. – French fervor and English sobriety. – Guidon Lusignan and his dictionary. – The Prince’s medals. – A lucrative trade. – Miss Marguerite. – The various branches of the Lusignan tribe. – Prince Vitanval. – Queen Wilhelmine of Holland and the Melusinian sash. – The open-mindedness of Prince Lusignan. – The Egyptian-Armenian knight. – Rupture and trial. 143

Chapter 9: Ianesco again. – My provincial dialect. – Chobanian and his opponents. – The Pashalian event. – Souren Bartevian’s speech. – Arpiar and Vahé Arzouyan. – Bartevian takes over Nor Gyank. – Chobanian against Arpiar. – Azad Khosk. – Arpiar comes to Paris. – An innovative poghacha. – Chobanian’s three projects and the ivory mines. – The fair and its victims. – The Persian Shah’s birdkeeper. 165

Chapter 10: The Parisian Society of Christian Youth. – Cheap meals, cheap baths. – A reading of the Holy Bible. – A successful start. – The Society of Temperance and its president. – Drunk on water. – The newspaper En Avant. – The Salvation Army. – Its officers and soldiers. – News of a battle. – A gymnastics prayer. – A public confession. 181

Epilogue [By Yervant Odian] 237

About the Translator 273

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