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THE ORGANIZATION

100th anniversary of the birth of William Saroyan, writer (1908-1981)   
Countries : Armenia
Year : 2008
08_armenia_william-saroyan_200.jpg
William Saroyan was an American author, novelist and playwright of Armenian origin, whose stories celebrated optimism in the middle of trials and difficulties of the Depression era. Several of Saroyan's works were drawn from his own experiences, although his approach to autobiographical facts can be called poetic, therefore many of his plays and short stories are about growing up impoverished as the son of Armenian immigrants. These stories were popular during the Great Depression. Saroyan grew up in Fresno, the centre of Armenian- Americans in California, where many of his works are set. He worked tirelessly to perfect a prose style that was full of zest for life and was seemingly impressionistic. The style became known as "Saroyanesque". Among Saroyan's best known plays is “The Time of Your Life” (1939) which won a Pulitzer Prize. Saroyan refused the honour but accepted the New York Drama Critics Circle award. The short story collection “My Name is Aram” (1940) is an international bestseller. It has been translated into many languages.
  • Updated:09-05-2008 10:32 am
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