Armenian literature in one of Europe's largest libraries

20 February, 2020

On February 19, the Dutch translation of Hovhannes Tumanyan's fairy tales was presented at the Amsterdam Public Library. The event was attended by representatives of the Dutch cultural cycles, Dutch writers and and members of Armenian community. The host of the event was Dieuwertje Blok.

In his speech, Ambassador Tigran Balayan thanked the project initiator and translator Anna-Maria Matar for the continuous efforts towards making the Armenian culture accessible in the Netherlands, and highly appreciated the work of the illustrator Harmen van Straaten. Ambassador Balayan also expressed gratitude to Rubinstein Publishing House for publishing the book and Robert Zieck, RA Honorary Consul in Amsterdam, for sponsoring the project.

“For almost a decade the anniversary of pan-Armenian poet is also celebrated in Armenia as the day of giving a book. Thus we have a few presents to give։ the National Library of Armenia presents to the Amsterdam Public Library books of modern Armenian writers, which will be presented by Anna-Maria Matar, and 100 volumes of Armenian classics and encyclopedias by the Armenian Sunday School in Almelo, which will be presented by Svetlana Andreasyan, Principal of the school. I am confident that these books will take their rightful place in the Amsterdam Public Library's "Home of All Languages",- Ambassador Balayan mentioned in his speech. The Amsterdam Public Library, in its turn, donated about 30 volumes of English and Dutch books to the Public Library of Armenia.

At the event, translator Anna-Maria Matar and painter Harmen van Straaten spoke about Tumanyan's tales, their work and impressions, Dieuwertje Blok read some parts of Hovhannes Tumanyan tales.

The presentation was accompanied by an Armenian music. The evening was finalyzed by a screening of "Death of Kikos" animation fiim, later on participants celebrated Tumanyan's anniversary with Armenian wine.

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