The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse

William Saroyan (1980-1981) was an Armenian American writer of plays, screenplays, and stories. He often wrote about the immigrant experience in California. “The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse” is set in the early 20th century in Fresno, California. The story appears in a collection of Saroyan’s short stories called My Name is Aram, which features the young protagonist, Aram.

The early 20th century marked a transformative period in American history, characterized by industrialization, urbanization, and significant social changes. Fresno, specifically, was part of California's Central Valley, which experienced rapid growth and agricultural development during this time. The region became known as the “breadbasket of the world” due to its abundant agricultural production.

The story takes place in this rural setting. The importance of farming is emphasized through the characters’ interactions with animals, the description of the vineyards, barns, fields, orchards, and irrigation ditches, as well as the horse that is involved in the central conflict of the narrative. Agriculture was not only an economic pillar but also a way of life for many individuals in Fresno and the surrounding areas. One of the story’s characters, John Byro, is a local farmer.

Additionally, the story explores the cultural context of the Armenian American community in Fresno. Many Armenian refugees settled in California and other parts of the United States, bringing with them their unique language, customs, and traditions. The protagonist, nine-year-old Aram, is of Armenian descent, and some of his interactions with his cousin, Mourad, provide insight into their shared heritage. The characters’ names—Aram, Mourad, and Khosrove—reflect their Armenian heritage. Although it’s not explicitly discussed in detail, the story points to the discrimination and loneliness that Armenian immigrants experienced.

Armenians are a cultural group from what is now known as the Republic of Armenia in Western Asia. Armenians first arrived in Fresno, California, in 1881, and they remain a significant cultural group in the area. The US Armenian community has its roots in the migration of Armenians fleeing various waves of persecution and genocide— in particular, the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1917 in which Armenians were persecuted by the Ottoman Empire. Land that now comprises the Republic of Armenia belonged to the vast and powerful Ottoman Empire (1299-1922). Various military losses prompted Ottoman leaders to fear that Armenians would seek independence, and Armenians were systematically persecuted. Many were robbed of their possessions and wealth, arrested, deported, massacred, and sent on “death marches,” or forced marches to concentration camps. Some Armenians avoided persecution through forced conversion to the religion of Islam.

According to the Fresno County Historical Society, although the Armenians who settled in California’s Central Valley became successful farmers and merchants and introduced new varieties of grapes to the area, they were not entirely welcomed by the existing population. They faced prejudice and discrimination, and they therefore formed a strong cultural community away from their homeland, establishing an Armenian section in the city’s southeastern part of town.

The story’s central theme of Duality and the Immigrant Experience is expressed in the Armenian immigrant experience in California’s mid-20th-century Central Valley.