Issue #1

Why Did the Translator Choose This Piece?

I was drawn to Odian’s memoir—and this excerpt in particular—for two reasons. First, as a reader, I found Odian’s escapades funny. It was as simple as that. While I have been moved while reading and translating other works of Armenian literature, I cannot say I am often entertained in the most basic sense of the word. Armenian literature does not always need to be heavy or didactic. It can also bring some laughter and lightness to a reader’s day.

Second, as a historian, I was struck by all the breadcrumbs Odian’s memoir leaves for researchers interested in the pre-genocide Armenian diaspora. I saw the memoir’s potential in stirring interest in these overlooked histories and in helping to add texture to the lives of people often framed solely as victims of massacre and misery. Odian introduces us to people who not only defy these stereotypes but who—like the fake prince in his tale—understand how to use them to their advantage.