Gabriel is an ethnic Armenian and veteran of the Balkan Wars who lived in France for many years , married a French woman , and had a son with her . The events of the novel occur during a visit to his hometown in Turkey , then in the Ottoman Empire . Initially he feels a lack of connection to his hometown , but he takes a leadership role and helps the village find safety on Musa Dagh and then escape on a French warship from the Armenian Genocide . Lionel Steiman , author of '' Franz Werfel : The Faith of an Exile : From Prague to Beverly Hills '' , states " It does not take much to turn Gabriel Bagradian from a detached , unconcerned European into a committed Armenian activist . " Gabriel remains on the mountain after ensuring the safety of the others , including his wife , and is killed by Ottoman soldiers
Armenian Genocide
Armenian Genocide
Gabriel Bagradian