Golden Rooster, The

[From Abcarian's introduction] First published in Tbilisi (Georgia) in 1879, The Golden Rooster is the second and most popular in a trilogy of short novels by Raffi focusing on the ethos and social significance of the traditional Armenian merchant class of the Caucasus. With this trilogy Raffi sought to 'tear away the mask of gold' covering the faces of these powerful merchants and lay bare for all to see the trickery and moral bankruptcy that was at the heart of their success. At the same time, he sought to suggest a more honorable course for a new generation of merchants, young men willing and able to make a genuine contribution to the larger interests of Armenian society.