Historical novel

Literary innovation of Khachatur Abovyan was expressed to the utmost in the genre of novel. The novel ‘Wounds of Armenia’ laid the foundation of the New Armenian literature. Still in Derpt Abovyan thought over writing about Aghasi, but the characteristic of genre was not still clear. After long mediation Abovyan chooses the genre of novel and creates his masterpiece. ‘Wounds of Armenia’ is the first Armenian national historical novel, in which the author pictured a whole historical period: the events of the first quarter of the 19th century and the history of his dear nation of that period. The novel ‘Wounds of Armenia’ also contains some political and elucidative programmes connected with future life of the Armenians during Russian rule. Abovyan wants to bring the Armenians to consciousness and waken sense of national dignity by introducing  them as well as foreigners to the history of Armenia and showing  from whence come of the Armenians, what kind of past, national heroes, spiritual and material treasures they had. It is obvious that for realization such a spacious programme only genre of novel could serve. ‘Wounds of Armenia’ is not just a work of art for Abovyan; he represents public,social, political, economic and moral wounds of the Armenian nation cicatrized on their heart of the for ages.  The novel is also a lamentation for Aghasi and the likes of him, a laudation for their heroic deeds. For that reason Abovyan called his novel ‘Wounds of Armenia, lamentation of a patriot’.

The novel ‘Wounds of Armenia’ became that mighty source, with which many values of the new Armenian literature were connected. It was an incitement both for our romantic writers: Patkanyan, Raffi, Mouratsan and for the writers of realistic direction: Proshyan, Aghayan, Toumanyan,  Isahakyan and others.