New e-book: Samuel, Raffi

“Samuel” is one of the historical novels by the Armenian novelist Raffi, written in the 1880s. It was first published in the Tiflis magazine Mshak. “Samuel” is considered one of the greatest monuments of Armenian literature.

While describing the difficult situation of Armenia in the 4th century, Raffi aimed to depict the condition of Armenia in the 19th century, when the country had become an object of exploitation by two great powers. During that period, the Tsarist authorities were burning Armenian books, closing churches, and attempting to destroy the language. Raffi could not remain silent about all of this.

The novel has been included in Armenian educational curricula because its main ideas include patriotism and a call for a struggle for liberation. Many of the characters symbolize patriotism, including women—such as Ashkhen, Hamazaspouhi, and Queen Parandzem—who are ready to shed their blood for the sake of the homeland.

The material for the novel was drawn from the historical accounts of Pavstos Buzand and Movses Khorenatsi.