Derenik Demirchian
Encyclopedia
Derenik Karapeti Demirchian or Derenik Demirchyan was a Georgian
born Armenian
poet, novelist and translator as well as playwright.
in what is now southern Georgia
. After completing his schooling in Tiflis, he became a member of the Armenian literary group Vernatun
, so named because its members met in the 5th floor residence of poet Hovhannes Tumanian. Demirchian published his first book of poetry in 1899. He attended the University of Geneva from 1905 to 1909, and then after some years in Tiflis settled in Yerevan in 1925.
During the 1920s several of his plays were produced, most notably Nazar the Brave, a rags-to-riches comedy about a folkloric figure which is based on a collation of over 60 sources by the poet Tumanian. Described by Demirchian as a play for “childlike adults and adultlike children,” Nazar the Brave was first performed in 1924. It was subsequently given professional productions in Yerevan, Tiflis and Baku, made into an opera and later a film (1940). From the mid-1920s, in addition to writing plays, Demirchian began writing and publishing in other prose genres, including short stories, novels, and children’s stories. And his most notable work is “Vardanank" (parts 1 and 2, 1943–46, 2nd ed., 1951), a monumental patriotic novel, dedicated to the 5th century Armenian liberation war.
He was also known as a translator from the Russian; his translation of Gogol’s Dead Souls is especially esteemed Demirchian continued to work and publish up until his death in 1956, December 6.
In 1980, the Derenik Demirchian State literary prize for prose was established in Soviet Armenia.
Derenik Demirchian House-Museum has operated since 1977 in Yerevan, in the house where the writer lived from 1929–1956.
He was recognized as a supporter of people's rights and participated in the Armenian literary group Vernatun (Upper Room). He is the author of "Kaj Nazar" (1924, fairy tale), "Hayreni yerkir" (1939), "Mesrop Mashtots" (1956) and other books. And his most notable work is "Vardanank" (parts 1 and 2, 1943–46, 2nd ed., 1951), a monumental patriotic novel, dedicated to the 5th century Armenian liberation war.
It is written by a bright, juicy language, includes historically colorful images of St Vardan's associates, the real picture of the life of Persian and Byzantine ruling circles.
Georgian people
The Georgians are an ethnic group that have originated in Georgia, where they constitute a majority of the population. Large Georgian communities are also present throughout Russia, European Union, United States, and South America....
born Armenian
Armenians
Armenian people or Armenians are a nation and ethnic group native to the Armenian Highland.The largest concentration is in Armenia having a nearly-homogeneous population with 97.9% or 3,145,354 being ethnic Armenian....
poet, novelist and translator as well as playwright.
Biography
Demirchian was born on February 6, 1877, in AkhalkalakiAkhalkalaki
Akhalkalaki is a small city in Georgia's southern region of Samtskhe-Javakheti with a population of 60,975. Akhalkalaki lies on the edge of the Javakheti Volcanic Plateau. The city is located about 30 km from the border with Turkey. 90 percent of the city's population are ethnic Armenians...
in what is now southern Georgia
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
. After completing his schooling in Tiflis, he became a member of the Armenian literary group Vernatun
Vernatun
"Vernatun" was an Armenian literary study group and a collective of writers based on the fourth floor of 44 Bebutov Street in Tiflis. "Vernatun" which was established in 1899. With some pauses it exists until 1908...
, so named because its members met in the 5th floor residence of poet Hovhannes Tumanian. Demirchian published his first book of poetry in 1899. He attended the University of Geneva from 1905 to 1909, and then after some years in Tiflis settled in Yerevan in 1925.
During the 1920s several of his plays were produced, most notably Nazar the Brave, a rags-to-riches comedy about a folkloric figure which is based on a collation of over 60 sources by the poet Tumanian. Described by Demirchian as a play for “childlike adults and adultlike children,” Nazar the Brave was first performed in 1924. It was subsequently given professional productions in Yerevan, Tiflis and Baku, made into an opera and later a film (1940). From the mid-1920s, in addition to writing plays, Demirchian began writing and publishing in other prose genres, including short stories, novels, and children’s stories. And his most notable work is “Vardanank" (parts 1 and 2, 1943–46, 2nd ed., 1951), a monumental patriotic novel, dedicated to the 5th century Armenian liberation war.
He was also known as a translator from the Russian; his translation of Gogol’s Dead Souls is especially esteemed Demirchian continued to work and publish up until his death in 1956, December 6.
In 1980, the Derenik Demirchian State literary prize for prose was established in Soviet Armenia.
Derenik Demirchian House-Museum has operated since 1977 in Yerevan, in the house where the writer lived from 1929–1956.
He was recognized as a supporter of people's rights and participated in the Armenian literary group Vernatun (Upper Room). He is the author of "Kaj Nazar" (1924, fairy tale), "Hayreni yerkir" (1939), "Mesrop Mashtots" (1956) and other books. And his most notable work is "Vardanank" (parts 1 and 2, 1943–46, 2nd ed., 1951), a monumental patriotic novel, dedicated to the 5th century Armenian liberation war.
Plays
- Nazar the Brave (Քաջ Նազար), 1912
- Vasak, 1914
- National Disgrace (Ազգային Խայտարակություն), 1919
- Judgement (Դատաստան), 1922
- The Song of Victorious Love (Հաղտական Սիրո Երգը), 1927
- Phosphoric Ray (Ֆոսֆորային Շող), 1932
- Captain (Կապիտան), 1938
- Fatherland (Երկիր Հայրենի), 1941
- Wealthy Hovhannes (Մեծատուն Հովհաննես)
- Napoleon Korkotyan
- Comrades (Ընկերները)
Vardanank
The Vardanank novel is based on real historical events of the 5th century - the Armenian Liberation War, historically known as the "war of Vardanians".It is written by a bright, juicy language, includes historically colorful images of St Vardan's associates, the real picture of the life of Persian and Byzantine ruling circles.