From the Archives: Saroyan Congratulates Weekly

Editor’s note: It is an often-repeated fact that William Saroyan began his writing career with the Hairenik Weekly (later renamed the Armenian Weekly). Even back in 1936, the Weekly had acknowledged him as “our most distinguished literary alumnus.” Below is a Letter to the Editor he wrote as the Hairenik Weekly began its third year of publication. It appeared on the front page of the Feb. 28, 1936 issue of the Weekly.

To the editor of the Hairenik:

Of course I am enthusiastic about the progress of Hairenik Weekly. I sincerely wish the paper a long life, and a good one.

I feel there is one important work to be done, and done soon, and that is this: to translate, in an orderly way, and publish in English in Hairenik Weekly the works of all Armenian writers. Especially prose; poetry should be translated literally, without regard for the rhyme, which is difficult to achieve in translation. The first works to be translated should be short stories and short essays. It is time the writers of Armenia were introduced to readers of English everywhere: after translated stories have been published in Hairenik Weekly I feel certain American publishers will be interested in bringing out an anthology of Armenian writers. I understand there are plenty of Armenian scholars in America who could do this work. I believe this is the time to begin doing so.

Sincerely,
William Saroyan