Florence Gilliam
Florence Gilliam was an American writer and journalist who became notable as an expatriate in Paris during the 1920s and 1930s. Disillusioned with America, she found a creative home in the vibrant cultural environment of Paris, where she served as an associate editor for the arts and letters journal Gargoyle, which featured contributions from renowned figures like Pablo Picasso and Hart Crane. Gilliam's work extended to critical journalism, including a significant 1923 article titled "The Turkish Myth," co-authored with writer Authur Moss. This piece addressed the controversial and complex topic of the Armenian genocide of 1915-1916, aiming to bring attention to the plight of Armenians and challenge prevailing narratives that criticized the Turks. However, the article faced criticism for its lack of scholarly authority, as both authors were not recognized experts in the field. Despite their intentions, Gilliam and Moss's work had limited impact in the broader discourse surrounding the genocide. Overall, Florence Gilliam's life and work reflect the tumultuous atmosphere of her time, as well as the challenges faced by expatriate writers in effectively engaging with significant historical issues.
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Florence Gilliam
Author
- Born: fl. 1920’s
Biography
Florence Gilliam was an American writer whose hatred of America made her flee to Paris. She was also an associate editor to the Parisian arts and letters journal Gargoyle. The Gargoyle had contributions from such famous people as Malcolm Cowley, Hart Crane, Nina Hamnett, and Pablo Picasso. As an American expatriate in Paris during the 1920’s and 1930’s, Gilliam had held several different journalism-related positions in order to make ends meet.
Gilliam and writer Authur Moss published an important article in The Nation in 1923; the article dealt with the Armenian genocide of 1915 and 1916. Titled “The Turkish Myth,” the article attempted to shed light on the alleged Armenian genocide and draw Western supporters to the authors’ cause. The article defended the Turkish against the attacks from the British and Americans, who claimed that the Turkish committed crimes and atrocities against the Armenians during their occupation in World War I. While this article was very blunt in blaming the Armenians, it held little professional clout because neither Gilliam nor Moss had much experience in the subject and they were not well-respected scholars. Because of their lack of academic and scholarly respect, the article received little exposure.