Eghia Demirjibashian (1851-1908, both in Constantinople) was a writer and poet, a dedicated contributor to journals, some of which he founded himself. Of frail mental health, the death of close relatives shook him, as did unhappiness in love, which led to a first suicide attempt in 1874. He suffered from consumption and by 1900 his mental health had deteriorated further. He committed suicide in 1908.

A well-known figure in Constantinople journalistic and literary circles, Demirjibashian was referred to simply as Eghia and wrote under many pseudonyms. Much of his work awaits publication, main collections with selcetions from his oeuvre saw the light in Paris in 1955 and in Yerevan in 1986.

Demirjibashian was inspired by positivism, French and German literature, as well as the Armenian literary tradition. The lecture will trace Eghia Demirjibashian’s life and work, inspiration for his social and literary endeavours and take a closer look at elements of his literary legacy, among others the exceptional Our Bosphorus.

Please scroll down to read the report on the 2022 lecture.