Vahan Totovents

After an elementary education, the young Totovents went to the Armenian Central School in the large nearby town of Kharpert, where two of his teachers were well-known authors Tlgadintsi and Rupen Zartarian, who influenced his style of writing, despite its individuality.

At the same time, he mastered English and French, and studied literature, history, and philosophy at the University of Wisconsin.

His notable works include the novels, stories and dramas Doktor Burbonian (1918), Mahvan batalion ("Death Battalion", 1923), New York (1927), Baku (v. 1–3, 1930–34), Hovnatʻan vordi Yeremiayi ("Jonathan, Son of Jeremiah", 1934).

His collection of autobiographical short stories Kyankʻě hin Hṛomeakan chanaparhi vra ("Life on the Old Roman Road", which "reflect[s] the society, culture, and mores not only of the Armenians of his childhood but also of their neighbors in the waning days of the Ottoman Empire", was particularly influential on Armenian literature.

[4] The Armenian film A Piece of Sky (1980) directed by Henrik Malian is based on Totovents's short story "Light-Blue Flowers".