TV Presentation of Alexandre Dumas’ "The Three Musketeers" Held (Video)

The world bestseller was presented by the translator, Samvel Gasparyan, alongside Gayane Harutyunyan, Head of Public Relations at VTB Bank Armenia.

Samvel Gasparyan noted that the novel first appeared in Armenian during the 1950s and was reissued twice afterward, though all previous publications were translated from Russian:

"Newmag Publishing has accomplished a major milestone by producing the first direct translation from the original text. The earlier translation was made from Russian, leaving several expressions omitted. Today, Dumas speaks directly in Armenian. “The Three Musketeers” remains one of the most widely read and translated books in world literature, inspiring roughly two film adaptations every year.

As one of the most celebrated works of French literature, it is cherished not only by the French but by readers worldwide. Dumas gifted the world a lasting motto: 'One for all, and all for one.'

Although this phrase appears only once or twice in the book, it has become an iconic emblem."

Gayane Harutyunyan discussed the collaboration with Newmag:

"Usually, the publishing house presents projects, and we select those that align with the bank's focus. When Artak Aleksanyan proposed translating Dumas directly from the original French, we enthusiastically agreed. Translating Dumas from the original text is a vital cultural initiative and an investment in our future.

Our bank prioritizes educational and cultural initiatives, and expanding access to high-quality literature in Armenian is essential in this regard. A well-educated and enlightened society forms the foundation of any country's development, and we are proud to contribute to this mission."

The speakers also shared how Artak Aleksanyan, head of Newmag Publishing, decided to translate Dumas from the original text: Artak had suggested that his son, Aleks, read “The Three Musketeers”.

After deciding to publish an edition with typography more accessible and engaging for young readers, they discovered that Dumas had never been translated into Armenian directly from the original French, as all existing editions were based on Russian versions.

Newmag had previously undertaken a similar effort by publishing a newly edited direct translation of Edmondo De Amicis' classic novel, Heart.