Marina Yaloyan's debut novel 'La petite pianiste d'Erevan' published by Albin Michel

Marina Yaloyan, an Armenian-born writer now based in France, has published her first novel, La petite pianiste d'Erevan, with Albin Michel. The book is a fictional account set in 1991 Armenia during the collapse of the Soviet Union, following a child piano prodigy named Verochka. It explores themes of political upheaval, famine, and the role of music and imagination as refuge. Yaloyan, who grew up across Armenia, Russia, and the United States, was interviewed by RFI in May 2026. The novel's description highlights the burning of books for warmth and violent street protests as the Soviet regime crumbled. Verochka's hope lies in winning a competition to enter a prestigious Moscow music school. The work is described as both a family chronicle and a poignant fresco of an era.