Canadian writer Wendy Elliott’s novel, The Dark Triumph of Daniel Sarkisyan, is about Daniel and his ten-year-old sister Mariam, survivors of the genocide whohave lost their parents, siblings, home andfriends. After all that suffering, they must still try to survive the many challenges of1920 Yerevan. When Daniel finally lands a job with the rich and powerful Gagik Gasparyan, he feels lucky. He quickly changes his mind. Within days, Gagik proves to be selfish, violent and just plain mean. Within a week, Daniel is caught in a dangerous, downward spiral of deceit, corruption and treachery. Within months, and against his will, he’s embroiled in espionage and murder.
Set against the deadly clash between the Ottoman Empire, the Soviet Russian Army, and the ill-fated optimism of a struggling new republic, Daniel races against time to protect his sister, uncover Gagik’s diabolical plot, and maintain his integrity in the face of overwhelming odds.
The novel, which will be published as a paperback and as an ebook, in both English and Armenian, offers a historical and geographical view of Yerevan,the first Republic of Armenia’s capital city, that will be news even to many Armenians. It is also a fascinating tale that illustrates how geopolitical changes happened in the region and how helpless small nations—and young people—really were.
In international literature, novels about Armenia are rare. Ms. Elliott started a one-month online fundraising campaign, which ends March 8, 2013, and is offering an early copy of The Dark Triumph of Daniel Sarkisyan to people who support the project. Already her friends and family have contributed 30% of the goal. She is hoping that Armenians, especially in the Diaspora, will also be interested in seeing this novel get out into the world.
