Hovhannes Toumanian

HOVHANNES TOUMANIAN is considered to be one of the greatest Armenian poets and writers. His work was mostly written in tragic form, often centering on the harsh lives of villagers in the Lori region. Toumanian is usually regarded in Armenian circles as "All-Armenian poet". Toumanian’s inspiration for his writing came considerably from his parents. He was born in the village of Dsegh in the Province of Lori, Armenia. With his father the village's priest and his mother an avid storyteller with a particular interest in fables, Toumanian had incorporated many of the themes from his mother's stories and his father's preachings into his writings. He has written lyrics, fables, epic poems and translations into Armenian of Byron, Goethe and Pushkin.