Shahan Shahnour
Biography & Works
Compiled By Shant Norashkharian
Shahan Shahnour was born Shahnour Kerestejian, on
August 3, 1903, in a suburb of Istanbul, Turkey. He graduated from
Berberian High School in 1921, and started contributing to "Vosdan"
paper, mostly with translations. In 1923 he moved to Paris, where
he worked as a photographer, and in 1929 he published his first
novel written in Armenian, RETREAT WITHOUT SONG, which had appeared
periodically in Harach newspaper of Paris. In 1933, he published
his second book, also written in Armenian, THE BETRAYAL OF
BLOOD-SUCKERS, which is a collection of short stories. In 1937 he
fell victim to a terrible bone disease (Osteolysis) which disabled
him and caused him much pain and suffering for the rest of his
life, which was spent in hospitals after he lost his home in 1939.
In 1945, having partially recovered from his illness, he started
writing in French under the name Armen Lubin, and from then on he
was acclaimed highly as a French writer and poet and received
several literary awards. He published in French THE FURTIVE
PASSER-BY, SACRED PATIENCE, THE NIGHTLY TRANSPORT, THE HIGH CAGE,
and FIRE WITH FIRE. In 1962 a collection of his Armenian works were
printed in Yerevan by Haybedhrad Press. In 1967 he published TWO
RED NOTEBOOKS in Armenian, and in 1971 THE OPEN REGISTER also in
Armenian. Shahnour died on August 20, 1974, in the hospital of
Saint Rafael, in France.
A Short Bibliography
Writings by Shahan Shahnour:
Lubin, Armen. Feux contre feux [Fire against Fire] (Paris:
B. Grasset, 1968).
________. L'etranger [The Foreigner] (Troyes: Cahiers
Bleus, 1984).
________. Le passager clandestin [The Furtive Passer-by]
(Paris: Gallimard,
1946).
________. Les hautes terrasses; poemes [The High Cage:
Poems] (Paris: Gallimard,
1957).
________. Les logis provisoires (Mortemart: Rougerie,
1983).
________. Sainte patience; poemes [Sacred Patience: Poems]
(Paris: Gallimard,
1951).
________. Transfert nocturne [The Nightly Transfer] (Paris:
Gallimard,
1955).
Shahnour, Shahan. Azatn Komitas (1970).
________. Bats tomare (1971).
________. Erker [Works], ed. Abraham Alikiane (Erevan:
"Sovetakan Grogh" Hratarakchutyun, 1982-).
________. Haraleznerun davachanutiune (Paris: Tpagrutiun
Ter-Hakobean, 1933).
________. Haraleznerun davachanutiune: patkerazard patmutiun
Hayots (Paris: Matenashar "Haraj," 1971).
________. Nahanje arhants ergi [Retreat without Song]
(1959).
________. Nahanje arhants ergi: patkerazard patmutiun Hayots
[Retreat without Song: Armenian History Illustrated]
(Paris: Tparan Masis, 1929).
________. Nahanje arhants ergi: patkerazard patmutiun Hayots
[Retreat without Song: Armenian History Illustrated] (Beirut:
Hratarakutiun Sevan Hratarkchakan Tan, 1981).
________. Retreat without Song, trans. Mischa Kudian
(London: Mashtots Press, 1982).
________. Taterakan patkerner (Beirut: Shirak, 1986).
________. Tertis kiraknoreay tiue (Beirut: Hratarakutiun
Grigor Keoseeani, 1958).
________. The Tailor's Visitors, trans. Mischa Kudian
(London: Mashtots Press, 1984).
Writings about him:
Brenner, Jacques. Mon Histoire de la Litterature Franciase
Contemporaine [My History of Contemporary French Literature]
(Paris, 1988).
Topchian, Edward. The Concept of Renaissance. (Erevan:
Sovetakan Grogh, 1977).