A Hair’s Breadth From Death: The Memoirs of Hampartzoum Mardiros Chitjian

Genocide eyewitness Hampartzoum Chitjian’s first-person accounts of the Armenian genocide and its aftermath tell of his life of suffering–survival by living as a slave in Turkish and Kurdish households–his escape–via Persia to Mexico–and subsequently Los Angeles–where a sense of loss and injustice pervade his being. His raison d’etre becomes to ensure the Genocide is not forgotten. A very familiar face to the old-time LA community–Chitjian attended each and every April 24 demonstration held in the in the 1960s–70s–80s and even through part of the 90s.

He died last year before his memoirs were ready for publication. His faithful daughter finished them–however; the two editions that compilation–one in English and one in Armenian– be released next month.