Levon Pashalian (; 1868 in

Constantinople Constantinople (#Names of Constantinople, see other names) was a historical city located on the Bosporus that served as the capital of the Roman Empire, Roman, Byzantine Empire, Byzantine, Latin Empire, Latin, and Ottoman Empire, Ottoman empire ...

Ottoman Empire The Ottoman Empire (), also called the Turkish Empire, was an empire, imperial realm that controlled much of Southeast Europe, West Asia, and North Africa from the 14th to early 20th centuries; it also controlled parts of southeastern Centr ...

- 1943 in

Vichy Vichy (, ; ) is a city in the central French department of Allier. Located on the Allier river, it is a major spa and resort town and during World War II was the capital of Vichy France. As of 2021, Vichy has a population of 25,789. Known f ...

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

), was an

Armenian Armenian may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to Armenia, a country in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia * Armenians, the national people of Armenia, or people of Armenian descent ** Armenian diaspora, Armenian communities around the ...

short story writer, journalist, editor, novelist, and politician.

Biography

Levon Pashalian was born in 1868 in

Üsküdar Üsküdar () is a municipality and district of Istanbul Province, Turkey. Its area is 35 km2, and its population is 524,452 (2022). It is a large and densely populated district on the Anatolian (Asian) shore of the Bosphorus. It is border ...

, a district of

that is situated on the Asiatic side of the

Bosphorus The Bosporus or Bosphorus Strait ( ; , colloquially ) is a natural strait and an internationally significant waterway located in Istanbul, Turkey. The Bosporus connects the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara and forms one of the continental bo ...

. He attended the prestigious Berberian Varjaran (High School) and studied under famed principal and pedagogue Reteos Berberian (Who was the founder and principal of the school as well). He began his literary career in the local ''Massis'',

Arevelk ''Arevelk'' (in Armenian language, Armenian Արեւելք meaning Orient) was a widely circulated and read Armenian language, Armenian newspaper published and circulated throughout the Ottoman Empire. The newspaper was started by a collaboration ...

, and ''Hayrenik''

newspapers. He joined the Hnchakian political party but fled to safety in

Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...

in the 1890s when the Ottoman government began persecuting

political activists. He met with

Arpiar Arpiarian Arpiar Arpiarian () (December 21, 1851 – February 12, 1908) was a writer and a political activist from the Ottoman Empire. He was the pioneer of realism in Armenian literature. Early life and education Arpiar Arpiarian was born in 185 ...

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

and began a newspaper called ''Nor Gyank'' dedicated to the newly found Reformed Hnchakist Party. This paper later merged into Hnchak, which would be the Party's official organ. In 1902 Levon Pashalian went to

Baku Baku (, ; ) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities in Azerbaijan, largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and in the Caucasus region. Baku is below sea level, which makes it the List of capital ci ...

in order to work for a French oil company. He remained in Baku until the

Bolshevik Revolution The October Revolution, also known as the Great October Socialist Revolution (in Soviet historiography), October coup, Bolshevik coup, or Bolshevik revolution, was the second of two revolutions in Russia in 1917. It was led by Vladimir L ...

in 1920. After the revolution, he returned to

and continued his literary career and political activism. In 1922-1923 he was a member of the Armenian National Delegation led by Boghos Nubar which was a commission intent on dealing with the

Armenia Armenia, officially the Republic of Armenia, is a landlocked country in the Armenian Highlands of West Asia. It is a part of the Caucasus region and is bordered by Turkey to the west, Georgia (country), Georgia to the north and Azerbaijan to ...

n plight after World War I. He joined the Armenian General Benevolent Union and visited

Soviet Armenia The Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic (ArSSR), also known as Soviet Armenia, or simply Armenia, was one of the Republics of the Soviet Union, constituent republics of the Soviet Union, located in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Soviet Armenia ...

in 1924 to help construct schools, hospitals, and settlements. In 1928 he founded the French-Armenian newspaper ''Le Foyer'' which lasted until 1932. He died in

Literary career

Levon Pashalian is known to be one of the leading realist writers in the

literary scene. His famous short stories and novels include ''Tratsuhin'' (The neighbor woman, 1888), ''Verchin Hampuyri'' (The last kiss, 1890), ''Nor Zkesdi'' (New outfit, 1890), ''Terterian Ukhdi'' (The vow of a priest); which was made into a short movie in

, ''Aghavniner'' (Pigeons, 1894). His short stories were scattered all over newspapers and journals until Arshag Chobanian collected them and published them under one book called ''Noraveber yev Patmvazkner'' (Short novels and stories).

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pashalian, Levon 1868 births 1943 deaths Armenian-language writers Writers from Istanbul People from Üsküdar 19th-century writers from the Ottoman Empire 20th-century writers from the Ottoman Empire Armenians from the Ottoman Empire Berberian School alumni Emigrants from the Ottoman Empire Immigrants to the Russian Empire Immigrants to France Date of death missing 19th-century journalists from the Ottoman Empire