Armenian American literature constitutes a diverse body of literature that incorporates American writers of Armenian ancestry.
Encompassing a cross section of literary genres and forms, Armenian American writers often incorporate some common themes (i.e. the Armenian Genocide) while maintaining very personal literary styles.
The New York-based Ararat Quarterly, published since 1959, has been a major venue for Armenian American writing. Ararat is published in English by the AGBU and also includes works by Armenian writers around the world in translation.
First generation Armenian American writers include William Saroyan, Levon Surmelian, A. I. Bezzerides, Michael Arlen, Peter Sourian, David Kherdian, Marjorie Housepian Dobkin, Leon Serabian Herald, Emmanuel Varandyan, Arlene Voski Avakian, Jack Kevorkian, Nishan Parlakian, Leo Hamalian and others.[1]
Second generation Armenian American writers include Peter Balakian, Nancy Kricorian, Mark Arax, Aris Janjigian, George Stamboulian, Carol Edgarian, Michael J. Arlen, Arthur Nersesian, Micheline Aharonian Marcom, Dahlia Elsayed, Nancy Agabian, Hrag Vartanian, Christopher Atamian and others.[1]