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Many Georgian writers are well known not only in their own country, but also far beyond its borders, especially in Russia. In this article we will introduce several of the most prominent writers who left the most noticeable mark on the culture of their country.

Classic of literature

One of the most famous writers of the 20th century is the author of novels and epics Chabua Amirejibi. He was born in 1921 in Tiflis. In 1944, he was arrested for participation in the political group “White George” and sentenced to 25 years in prison.

He managed to escape three times, and the last time his fake documents were so good that Chabua became the director of a plant in Belarus. However, as a result, he was arrested again and sent to a camp.

In 1953, Chabua Amirejibi, one of the active participants in the prisoner uprising in Norilsk, was released only in 1959. In the 90s he was a deputy and in 2010 he openly accused the regime of President Mikheil Saakashvili. In the same year he became a monk. Died in 2013. The writer was 92 years old.

Chabua Amirejibi's main novel is "Data Tutashkhia", which he wrote from 1973 to 1975. This is an epic work in which the author painted a reliable panorama of pre-revolutionary Georgian society. Data Tutashkhia, the main character, whose name is the same as a character in Georgian mythology, sets himself the goal of eradicating all evil in the world, but this leads him to conflict with the state and the law. The date becomes an exile.

In 1977, based on this novel, the serial film “Shores” was shot.

Luka Razikashvili

Another famous Georgian writer and poet is Luka Razikashvili. He was born in 1861, wrote poems, plays and poems. In literature he is better known under his pseudonym - Vazha Pshavela.

Vazha began writing in 1881, higher education I wanted to get it in St. Petersburg, but I could only become a volunteer student at the Faculty of Law.

The main theme of his work is socio-ethnographic. Vazha Pshavela talks in detail about the life and traditions of the highlanders, their customs and way of life.

At the same time, he manages to outline the brewing conflict between the old and new way of life, which he was therefore one of the first to consider. In total he wrote 36 poems and about 400 poems.

In Russia, his work is well known from the translations of Boris Pasternak, Osip Mandelstam, Marina Tsvetaeva.

Leader of the national liberation movement

Georgian poet and writer Akaki Tsereteli is a prominent thinker, national and public figure. He was born in 1840 and devoted his entire life to the fight against tsarism and serfdom.

Most of his artistic works have become classic examples of nationalism and ideology. The most famous of them are “Imeretian Lullaby”, “Song of Workers”, “Desire”, “Chonguri”, “Dawn”, “Little Kakhi”, “Bagrat the Great”, “Natela”. They brought up many patriotic ideals among the Georgian people.

Akaki Tsereteli died in 1915 at the age of 74.

"Me, Grandma, Iliko and Illarion"

The author of the novel “Me, Grandmother, Iliko and Illarion” Nodar Dumbadze is very popular in Georgia. He was born in Tiflis in 1928. He worked in the magazines "Rassvet" and "Crocodile", and was a screenwriter at the film studio "Georgia-Film".

He wrote his most famous novel in 1960. The novel is dedicated to a Georgian boy named Zuriko, who lives in a small village. The action takes place in pre-war Georgia. The main character is a schoolboy who encounters his first love, then sees off his adult fellow villagers to the Great Patriotic War, with those of them who remain alive rejoicing in the victory over fascism.

After school, Zuriko enters the university in Tbilisi, but, having received a higher education, still returns to her native village to stay with her most faithful and loving friends for the rest of her life. In 1963, the novel was filmed, under the same name, it was released at the Georgia Film studio.

Nodar Dumbadze died in 1984 in Tbilisi, he was 56 years old.

"Canaglia"

In 1880, the future classic of Georgian literature, Mikheil Adamashvili, was born in the Tiflis province. He published his first story in 1903, and then he came up with a pseudonym. Since then, everyone knows him under the name Mikheil Javakhishvili.

After October revolution was in opposition to the Soviet government, was a member of the National Democratic Party of Georgia. In 1923, the Bolsheviks arrested him and sentenced him to death. Mikhail Savvich was acquitted only with the guarantee of the Georgian Writers' Union. Outwardly, he reconciled with the Soviet regime, but in reality the relationship remained uneasy until his death.

In 1930 he was accused of Trotskyism, only with Beria coming to power new sentence was cancelled. Javakhishvili even began to be published, and his novel “Arsen from Marabda” was filmed.

His 1936 novel A Woman's Burden was condemned by Soviet ideologists, who said it portrayed the Bolsheviks as real terrorists. After this, the writer refused Beria to describe the work of the Bolsheviks in pre-revolutionary Georgia. In 1936, he supported Andre Gide and was declared an enemy of the people.

In 1937, Mikhail was arrested for anti-Soviet provocation and shot. Until the end of the 50s, his works remained banned; only after Stalin’s cult of personality was debunked, the Georgian writer was rehabilitated, and his novels began to be republished.

He created his most famous novel, “Canalya,” in 1924. It describes how a famous rogue named Kvachi Kvachantiradze travels through St. Petersburg, Georgia, Stockholm and Paris. He manages to enter the chapel of Grigory Rasputin, the royal palace, and take part in the First World War and the Civil War. He makes his way to success and fame through the bedrooms of the first beauties of the Russian Empire and trickery.

The name of the energetic scoundrel has become a household name; in Georgia he is put on a par with Ostap Bender, Figaro and Casanova.

Georgian science fiction writer

A prominent representative of Georgian science fiction is Guram Dochanashvili. He was born in Tbilisi in 1939. He wrote many novels, stories, and essays. In Russia, he is primarily known for such works as “Song Without Words,” “There, Behind the Mountain,” and “Give Me Three Times.”

The main themes that he explores in his books are love, friendship, and service to art.

Gamsakhurdia is a famous Georgian philologist and literary historian, writer, born in 1891. Having received higher education at German universities, he became one of the most influential prose writers of the 20th century.

After studying in Europe, he returned to Georgia in 1921, when Bolshevik power had already been established there. At first, he was neutral towards the new rulers, but with the increase in Sovietization, the suppression of freedoms and the development of the machine of repression, he began to make anti-Bolshevik speeches.

He created the “Academic Group”, which called for art outside of politics. In 1925, his first novel was published, entitled “The Smile of Dionysus,” which presented his aesthetic and philosophical views in as much detail as possible. The main character is an intellectual originally from Georgia, somewhat similar to the author himself, who goes to Paris to experience life. In an unfamiliar city, he remains a stranger, cut off from his roots. Soviet critics accused the author of decadence.

In 1924, the anti-Soviet uprising in Georgia was defeated, Konstantin was expelled from Tbilisi University, where he lectured on German literature. In 1926, Gamsakhurdia was arrested and received 10 years for participating in the anti-Soviet uprising. He served his term in the Solovetsky special purpose camp, spent more than a year in prison and was released early.

Creativity Gamsakhurdia

During the years of Stalin's terror, he worked on his main work - a novel about the fate of an artist under a totalitarian system, "The Hand of the Great Master." It was written in 1939.

The events take place in the 11th century, when, by order of Tsar George I and Catholicos Melchizedek, the Georgian architect Arsakidze built the Orthodox Church of Svetitskhoveli. The destinies of the main characters of the novel are intertwined into a real tragic tangle, both claim the love of the beautiful daughter of the feudal lord Talakva Kolonkelidze - Shorena. They are torn between feeling and duty. The writer comes to the tragic conclusion that no person can be happy in a totalitarian society. Both heroes come to disappointment and death; they become victims of a totalitarian regime, even though outwardly they appear to be on opposite sides of power. In his work, Gamsakhurdia describes in allegorical form the tragedy of Stalin's reign.

His tetralogy “David the Builder,” which he wrote from 1946 to 1958, is devoted to similar themes. Its events take place in the 12th century during the heyday of the Georgian feudal state.

In his 1956 novel “Blossoming of the Vine,” Gamsakhurdia describes the collective farm peasantry turning once barren lands into vineyards. In 1963, he completed his memoirs, “Communication with Ghosts,” which was forbidden to be published, but was published only after 1991.

Lavrenty Ardaziani

Lavrenty Ardaziani is considered the founder of realism among Georgian authors. It was he who prepared the fruitful bud for critical realism in this country.

He was born in Tiflis in 1815, studied at a parish school, and entered the theological seminary, since his father was a priest.

After receiving his education, he could not get a job for a long time until he received a minor clerical position in the Tiflis district administration. In those same years, he began to collaborate with literary magazines, published journalistic articles, and translated Shakespeare's tragedy "Hamlet" into Georgian.

His most famous novel was written in 1861, it is called "Solomon Isakich Medzhganuashvili." He describes a money-grubbing merchant and a true financial predator. The novel "Journey along the Sidewalks of Tbilisi" realistically talks about the life of the city, the bullying of officials against ordinary people.

In his polemical articles he defended the ideas of the “new generation”, advocating the development of realism in literature.

Karchkhadze is considered by literary researchers to be one of the most significant Georgian prose writers of the 20th century. He was born in Van municipality in 1936.

He wrote his best works in the 80s. His novel “Caravan” was published in 1984, and “Antonio and David” in 1987.

Another Georgian writer who needs to be mentioned in this article is film screenwriter Rezo Cheishvili. Scripts for films brought him popularity, for which he received not only people's love and recognition, but also state awards.

In 1977, based on his script, Eldar Shengelaya filmed the tragicomedy “Stepmother Samanishvili” about pre-revolutionary Georgia; the next year Devi Abashidze’s film “Kvarkvare” was released, in which Cheishvili painted a vivid political satire on the petty-bourgeois pre-revolutionary world.

He received the State Prize for the script for Eldar Shengelia’s comedy “Blue Mountains, or an Improbable Story” about a young author who submits his story to a publishing house, but it is not published. This happens because everyone there is busy with anything but work. The director sits all day long on the presidium and spends time at banquets; for some reason the editors themselves learn French, cook dinner or play chess. The young writer’s manuscript is read only by a painter who happens to be in the editorial office.

Rezo Cheishvili died in Kutaisi in 2015.

Literature is the thoughts, aspirations, hopes and dreams of a people. The art of words, which can both wound, offend and crucify, and elevate, give meaning and make happy.

On World Book and Copyright Day, which is celebrated annually around the world on April 23, Sputnik Georgia decided to analyze Georgian literature of the present time and offers the top 10 best writers of modern Georgia.

1. Guram Dochanashvili

Guram Dochanashvili is one of the brightest representatives of modern Georgian prose. Born in 1939 in Tbilisi. He owns stories, novellas, novels, essays. The Russian reader is familiar with Dochanashvili from the books “There, Beyond the Mountain”, “Song Without Words”, “Only One Person”, “A Thousand Little Cares”, “I Will Give You Three Gifts” and other works. Guram Dochanashvili's books are odes to love, kindness and sacrificial struggle; they have been translated into many languages ​​of the world and have repeatedly formed the basis of many films and performances.

The novel “The First Vestment” is the pinnacle of Guram Dochanashvili’s work. It is written in the style of magical realism and is close in spirit to the Latin American novel. A fusion of utopia and dystopia, and in general - about a person’s search for a place in this life and that the true price of freedom, alas, is death. The novel can be parsed into quotes. Unfortunately, Guram Dochanashvili’s later works have not been translated into Russian.

2. Aka Morchiladze

Aka Morchiladze (Georgi Akhvlediani) is a famous Georgian writer living in London. Born November 10, 1966. In 1988 he graduated from the Faculty of History of Tbilisi University. Author of many novels and short stories, five-time winner of the Georgian literary award "Saba". Based on the works and scripts of Aki Morchiladze, such famous Georgian films as “Walk to Karabakh” and “Walk to Karabakh 3”, “I Can’t Live Without You”, “Mediator” were shot.

Often Aka Morchiladze creates works in detective genre. And for this reason, critics often compare him with Boris Akunin. However, in parallel with his experiments in the genre of historical detective fiction, he also writes novels about modernity. In them we're talking about already about something completely different: about a new type of relations in society, about elitism, snobbery and teenagers. In Morchiladze’s books one can often find stylization of the modern manner of speaking of Georgian society, as well as the argot and jargon of modern colloquial speech Georgia.

3. Nino Kharatishvili

Nino Kharatishvili is a famous German writer and playwright from Georgia. Born in 1983 in Tbilisi. She studied to be a film director, and then in Hamburg to become a theater director. As the author of plays and the leader of a German-Georgian theater group, she attracted attention from an early age. In 2010, Kharatishvili became the laureate of the Prize named after. Adelberta von Chamisso, which honors authors who write in German and whose work is affected by cultural change.

Nino Kharatishvili is the author of many prose texts and plays that were published in Georgia and Germany. Her first book, Der Cousin und Bekina, was published in 2002. She collaborated with various theater troupes. Currently he is a regular writer for the Deutsche Theater in Göttingen. “When I’m in Georgia,” says Nino Kharatishvili, “I feel extremely German, and when I return to Germany, I feel like an absolute Georgian. This, in general, is sad and creates certain problems, but if you look at it differently , then it can also enrich me. Because if, by and large, I don’t feel at home anywhere, then I can build, create, create my own home everywhere.”

4. Dato Turashvili

David (Dato) Turashvili is a writer, playwright and screenwriter. Born on May 10, 1966 in Tbilisi. The first collection of Turashvili's prose was published in 1991. Since then, 17 original books have been published. IN currently Turashvili's works have been published in seven languages ​​in various countries. In particular, the novel “Escape from the USSR” (“Generation Jeans”) became a bestseller in Georgia, becoming the most popular work in the country over the past twenty years. This book was reprinted in Holland, Turkey, Croatia and Italy and Germany. The novel is based on real events: in November 1983, a group of young people in Tbilisi attempted to hijack a plane from the USSR.

As a playwright, David Turashvili worked with the world famous Georgian director Robert Sturua. Twice awarded the prestigious literary prize of Georgia "Saba" (2003, 2007).

5. Anna Kordzaia-Samadashvili

Anna Kordzaia-Samadashvili is a well-known author in Georgia of many books and publications ("Berikaoba", "Children of Shushanik", "Who Killed the Seagull", "Rulers of Thieves"). Born in 1968 in Tbilisi, a graduate of the Faculty of Philology of Tbilisi State University. For the last 15 years, Korzdaya-Samadashvili has worked as an editor in Georgian publications, as well as a correspondent in Georgian and foreign media.

Anna Kordzaia-Samadashvili is a two-time winner of the prestigious Georgian literary award "Saba" (2003, 2005). In 1999 she was awarded the Goethe Institute Prize for the best translation of the laureate's novel Nobel Prize, Austrian writer Elfriede Jelinek "Mistresses". In 2017, her collection of stories “I, Margarita” was included in the list of the best works by women authors in the world according to the New York Public Library.

6. Mikhail Gigolashvili

Mikhail Gigolashvili is a Georgian writer living in Germany. Born in 1954 in Tbilisi, he graduated from the Faculty of Philology and graduate school at Tbilisi State University. Candidate of Philological Sciences, author of studies of the works of Fyodor Dostoevsky. Published a number of articles on the topic "Foreigners in Russian Literature". Gigolashvili is the author of five novels and a collection of prose. Among them are “Judaea”, “The Interpreter”, “Ferris Wheel” (readers’ choice of the “Big Book” award), “The Capture of Muscovy” (shortlist for the NOS award). Since 1991 he has lived in Saarbücken (Germany), teaching Russian at Saarland University.

This year, his novel “The Secret Year” won the Russian Prize in the “Large Prose” category. It tells about one of the most mysterious periods of Russian history, when Tsar Ivan the Terrible left the throne to Simeon Bekbulatovich and secluded himself for a year in the Alexandrovskaya Sloboda. This is a current psychological drama with elements of phantasmagoria.

7. Nana Ekvtimishvili

Nana Ekvtimishvili is a Georgian writer, screenwriter and film director. Born in 1978 in Tbilisi, a graduate of the Faculty of Philosophy of Tbilisi State University. I. Javakhishvili and the German Institute of Cinematography and Television named after. Konrad Wolf in Potsdam. Nana's stories were first published in the Tbilisi literary almanac "Arili" in 1999.

Nana is the author of short and full-length films, the most famous and successful of which are “Long Bright Days” and “My Happy Family.” Ekvtimishvili made these films in collaboration with her director husband Simon Gross. In 2015, Nana Ekvtimishvili’s debut novel “The Pear Field” was published, which received several literary awards, including “Saba”, “Litera”, the Ilya University Prize, and was also translated into German.

8.Georgiy Kekelidze

Georgy Kekelidze is a writer, poet and TV presenter. His autobiographical documentary novel"Gurian Diaries" has been an absolute bestseller in Georgia for the last three years in a row. The book has been translated into Azerbaijani and Ukrainian, and will soon be published in Russian.

At 33 years old, Kekelidze is not just a fashionable writer and public figure, but also the country's chief librarian. Georgiy Kekelidze heads the Tbilisi National Parliamentary Library and is also the founder of the Book Museum. A native of the Georgian city of Ozurgeti (Guria region), Georgiy is the winner of almost all Georgian literary awards in Georgia. The founding of the first Georgian electronic library is associated with his name. Kekelidze also constantly travels around the regions of Georgia, restoring rural libraries and helping schools with books and computers.

9. Ekaterina Togonidze

Ekaterina Togonidze is a young novelist, television journalist and lecturer. Born in Tbilisi in 1981, she graduated from the Faculty of Journalism of Tbilisi State University. I. Javakhishvili. She worked on the First Channel of the Georgian Public Broadcaster: the leading information program “Vestnik” and the morning edition “Alioni”.

Since 2011, she has been published in Georgian and foreign publications and magazines. In the same year, her first collection of stories, “Anesthesia,” was published, which was awarded the Georgian literary prize “Saba”. Ekaterina is the author of the novels “Another Way”, “Listen to Me”, the short story “Asynchron” and others. Ekaterina Togonidze's books have been translated into English and German.

10.Zaza Burchuladze

Zaza Burchuladze is one of the most original writers of modern Georgia. He also published under the name Gregor Samsa. Zaza was born in 1973 in Tbilisi. Studied at the Tbilisi State Academy of Arts named after A. Kutateladze. The first publication was the story “The Third Candy”, published in 1998 in the Tbilisi newspaper “Alternativa”. From that time on, he was published in the newspaper "Alternative" and in the magazine "Arili" ("Ray").

Selected publications by Zaza Burchuladze - collection of stories (1999), novels " Old song"(2000), "You" (2001), "Letter to Mom" ​​(2002), the story "The Simpsons" (2001). Among latest works Zaza's novels "Adidas", "Inflatable Angel", "Mineral Jazz" and the collection of short stories "Soluble Kafka".

The first written Georgian monuments are known from the 5th century. However, the beginning of Georgian literature goes back even deeper. It is closely related to many factors, the most important of which was the adoption of Christianity, proclaimed the official state religion at the beginning of the 4th century. in Kartli (Eastern Georgia). The absence of written Georgian sources of the pre-Christian era does not allow us to judge the book culture of this time, although rich archaeological material (including data from epigraphic monuments in Greek and Aramaic), as well as evidence from foreign language, mainly Greek, sources reveal an organized state structure, developed culture and high civilization of the pre-Christian era in both Eastern and Western Georgia.

All this created favorable preconditions for the development of Christian literature, which became absolutely dominant in Georgia for several centuries, until the emergence of secular literature in the 11th century. The emergence of the Georgian written language (alphabet) is associated with Christianization, which made it possible for the widespread development of literature in the native language. Georgian historical chronicles attribute the invention of Georgian writing to King Parnavaz, who lived at the end of the 4th century. BC. However, before the beginning of the 5th century. AD samples of Georgian writing are unknown.

For a long time, the earliest Georgian monument was considered to be an inscription on a temple in Bolnisi (60 km from Tbilisi), dated 493. Georgian inscriptions discovered in Palestine (in the mid-20th century) during archaeological excavations give reason to consider one of them to be the earliest, judging by by the names of the historical persons mentioned in it, at the beginning of the 5th century. Starting from this time, the Georgian alphabet gradually modified its graphic form. Early Mrgvlovani(lit. “round”), is replaced by its graphic modification nushuri, which became the main type of writing from the 11th century. (although it arose much earlier). The next stage of its development is mkhedruli(“military”), being again a graphic modification of the angular nushuri, already by the 13th–14th centuries. takes on a form that almost completely coincides with the modern one. Thus, this system, which has a continuous history for at least 15 centuries, is the only one for transmitting text in the Georgian language. The model for its construction (location and sequence of letters, numerical values) was the Greek alphabet, while the graphic forms are original. The information that the Georgian alphabet, along with the Albanian and Armenian, was invented by a certain Mashtots, is a later interpolation in Armenian sources. The adoption of Christianity and the invention (or, perhaps, the restoration of the old, for some reason out of use) Georgian writing system were the most important factors that determined the emergence of the richest ancient Georgian literature, both translated and original. The centers of book learning were monasteries in Georgia itself and outside its borders. First of all, in Palestine, since Christianity penetrated into Georgia from there; then, in the 9th–10th centuries, when Muslim rule forced Georgian scribes to seek other refuges, the monastery of St. Catherine on Sinai became a significant cultural and book center and, finally, the famous Iveron Monastery on Mount Athos, founded in the 80s of the 10th century, became the main center of Georgian literature. Many similar ones cultural centers happened in Georgia itself: the monasteries in the south of Georgia, in Tao-Klarjeti (now within Turkey): Oshki, Shatberdi, Parkhali and others stand out especially. They worked in Georgian monasteries famous writers and translators: Euthymius Svyatogorets (955–1028), George Svyatogorets (1009–1065), Ephraim Mtsire (c. 1025–1100) and others.

Monuments of ancient Georgian literature. Translated works.

Immediately after the adoption of Christianity in Georgia, very active translation activity began. The first examples of ancient Georgian literature, which have come down to us in fragmentary manuscripts of the 6th–7th centuries, are translated: texts from the Bible (Old and New Testaments), apocryphal works, works of the church fathers: John Chrysostom, Basil of Caesarea, Severian of Gaval and many others, lives saints ( cm. HAGIOGRAPHY). These lists are dated according to paleographic and linguistic characteristics; All of them are characterized by the use of special verbal indicators of person (which are also found in the oldest dated epigraphic materials of the 5th–6th centuries, the so-called “khanmetnost”), which completely disappeared already in the 8th century.

Since that time, almost all outstanding works Christian writing. Some of them have survived only in Georgian translations; therefore, they are of great importance for the study of the history of Christian culture in general. Many translations are provided with lengthy comments by translators (Efrem Mtsire, Arseniy Ikaltoeli, Ionna Petritsi). The first dated Georgian manuscript - the so-called Sinai polychapter- a huge collection, rewritten in Jerusalem in 864; it contains more than forty homilies of outstanding Byzantine writers. A comparison with the “hanmet” texts shows that many of the works included in the collection were translated no later than the 5th–6th centuries. Georgian translations of the books of the Bible, starting with texts of the 5th–6th centuries, are presented in many ancient copies: for example, Adishi Quadrangle (Gospel Tetra) 897; The Bible, copied in Oshki by order of the builder of the Iveron Lavra by John Tornik in 978 and donated by him to Athos. There are other versions of biblical books, made for the purpose of editing and correcting ancient texts to bring them closer to the Greek ones: these are the New Testament and the Psalter as edited by George the Svyatogorets (11th century), the Gelati Bible (12th–13th centuries). Biblical texts were also collected and edited by Sulkhan-Saba Orbeliani ( see below). Many ancient apocrypha have been preserved in Georgian ( Life of the Virgin Mary, Proto-Gospel of Jacob 7th century). There are many exegetical works, for example, Interpretation of the Psalter(1081), collected by Ephraim Mtsire from many now unknown sources and supplemented by his own comments. Almost all genres of spiritual literature are represented in Georgian translations. Among the polemical works one can name Dogmaticon- a collection of works directed against various heresies, compiled by Arseniy Ikaltoeli in the 7th century.

A huge amount of homiletical literature by prominent Greek writers has been translated into Georgian, for example, more than 40 works of Gregory of Nazianzus (in various translations from the 6th to 12th centuries), up to a hundred works of John Chrysostom. Collection of legal church norms Great Nomocanon was translated by Arseny Ikaltoeli in the 12th century. Hagiographical monuments (Lives of Saints) occupy a special place among translated works in terms of their significance. The first translations are available in the “hanmat” texts; In addition to the earlier ones, there are later (11th–12th centuries) translations of the so-called “metaphrased” (i.e., “reworked”) texts.

The Georgian Lives, presented in the form of collections by month of the year (10 collections have survived), fill the actual gap in the Greek materials. In addition, in Georgian there is new information about the founder of this genre, Simeon Logothetes, and his successor, Ion Xiphilinus. Georgian liturgical monuments - especially the apostolic liturgies - preserved early Jerusalem traditions, and they provide significant material for the history of liturgical practice in the early Christian era.

The significance of ancient Georgian translated church literature attracts the attention of scientists not only in Georgia, but also beyond its borders: many monuments have been published in Belgium, Germany, France, and Switzerland.

Georgian original literature

appears already in the 5th century. The earliest work that has come down to us is Martyrdom of Saint Shushanik. The work, reflecting real historical events, describes the life and exploits of Shushanik, the wife of the local ruler Varsken. Her husband, for political reasons, accepted the faith of fire worshipers in order to please the Persian king Peroz (459–484). Shushanik flatly refused to follow her husband’s example and, stoically enduring many torments inflicted by her enraged husband, died after many years of imprisonment. The work, written by her confessor Yakov, has come down to us in a 10th century copy. It was written no later than 483: Varsken, Shushanik’s husband, is depicted alive in the work, but in 483 he was killed. Yakov’s spare but expressive narration and skillful use of artistic means show the author not only as a highly educated person, but also as a talented writer, skillfully noticing life’s details and not without humor.

Martyrdom of Eustathius of Mtskheta describes the asceticism of a young shoemaker who fled Persia in 541 because of his Christian beliefs. Following the denunciation of his own compatriots, he accepted martyrdom from the Persian ruler of Tbilisi. Author Martyrdom of the Holy and Blessed Martyr of Christ Abo– John Sabanisdze. It was written in 786–790. An Arab by nationality, Abo converted to Christianity and, despite the entreaties of the Emir of Tbilisi himself, did not become an apostate. He was executed, his head was displayed in the city square, his body was burned and the ashes were thrown into the Kura River. The author cites the example of an Arab martyr for the edification of his compatriots, who are “wavering in faith like a reed before the wind.” The author is a patriot who understands that apostasy from the faith threatens Georgians with the loss of national identity. The language of the work is characterized by complex rhetorical turns and artistic images taken from the Holy Scriptures. National-religious motives can be traced in other works ( Martyrdom of Constantine-Cakha, Martyrdom of Michael-Gobron and etc.); not all of them are of equal artistic value, but they are important as indicators of the national mood and the growing Greco-Byzantine political orientation.

In the 9th–10th centuries. In Georgian literature, the genre of “Lives” or “Acts” becomes popular. This was facilitated by new phenomena and trends in the life of the country: the reaction against Arab rule, the growth of national self-awareness, the beginning of the colonization of empty areas devastated by Arab rule, and the strengthening of what began in the 6th century. monastic construction. An example of this genre - first of all Life of the enlightener of Georgia Nino. There are several editions of this work, the first of which is listed in the 10th century, but it also contains traces of earlier editorial layers. The first part of the essay contains general information about Kartli, lists of kings, information about various historical events. The second describes the birth and youth of Nino, her arrival in Georgia, in Mtskheta, the miracles and healings she performed, the crushing of pagan idols, the conversion of Queen Nana and King Mirian to Christianity, the death of Nino; (the place of her burial is still revered in Georgia as a shrine). This work, in a slightly altered form, was included in the main narrative source of the history of Georgia - Kartlis Tskhovreba.

Life of Serapion of Zarzm(2nd half of the 9th century), the builder of the monastery in Samtskhe (Southern Georgia), was written by Serapion’s nephew Basili (Vasily). Cycle Lives Syrian ascetics are an interesting example of this genre; Traditionally thought to be Syrians who came to Georgia to strengthen Christianity, they were most likely Georgians who fled Syria due to religious persecution. Many monasteries in Georgia are considered founded by them and bear their names.

Life of Gregory of Khandzti written by George Merchul in 951. It describes the life and work of the largest church and statesman, gives big picture monastery construction in Tao-Klarjeti, shows the relationship between the church and secular authorities. This work is not only a brilliant literary work, but also a paramount historical source. It was written, as the author notes, 90 years after the death of Gregory, from the words of his students. The truthfulness of the story, the almost complete absence of fantastic miracles, and the dramatic development of the plots distinguish this work from other examples of the genre. Gregory, who lived 102 years (759–861), built several monasteries (many of them still exist) and was engaged in literary activities. A descendant of a noble feudal family, a man of strong principles and unbending will, he fearlessly entered into conflict, if necessary, with the royal power itself. The work conveys the idea of ​​the unity of a country united by the Christian faith; in the author’s view, Georgia is “a vast land where the liturgy is served and prayers are performed in the Georgian language.” The Life is known in the only copy of the 12th century, found among the manuscripts of the Monastery of the Cross in Jerusalem. The text was first published by N. Marr with a Russian translation. George Svyatogorets, in addition to his numerous translations from Greek, also owns an original work - Life of St. John and St. Euphemia. Work written ca. 1045, gives information about the builder of the Iveron Monastery on Athos and his son, the famous translator Euphemia, who translated not only from Greek to Georgian, but also from Georgian to Greek. It was he who translated into Greek (then translated into many languages ​​and became popular in Europe) spiritual romance The Tale of Barlaam and Joasaph, a Christianized version of the life of Buddha. Euthymius was also the abbot of the Athos Monastery. The work describes the biography of the builder of the monastery, his victory over the rebel Varda Skler, provides detailed information about the literary activities of Euthymius, provides a list of his works, and describes everyday monastic life. The work, known from the list of 1074, is not only a highly artistic work, but also a reliable source on the history of both Georgia and Byzantium at that time.

The life of George the Svyatogorets himself was described by his student, George Maly, shortly after the death of his teacher. In terms of its literary merit, this work should be considered one of the best examples of Georgian hagiographic narratives.

Georgian “Lives” created a tradition that became one of the prerequisites for the emergence of the genre of historical narrative prose.

Ephraim Mtsire, a translator and commentator, was also a multifaceted scribe; his theoretical views regarding the theory of translation, grammar, spelling, the nature of historical writings and much more, expressed in the scholia with which his translations are abundantly supplied, provide valuable material for the history of the development of the humanities. He owns the first original known in Georgia Lexicon– interpretation of words found in the Psalter (manuscript 1091). He is the author of an original work that analyzes information from Greek sources regarding the adoption of Christianity in Georgia. Ephraim had a great influence on the further development of Georgian books. He can be considered the founder of the Hellenophile movement, although it is not as strong in his works as in later writers and translators; these are: John Petritsi (late 11th – early 12th centuries) theologian and Neoplatonist philosopher, author of original commentaries on his translations of Byzantine philosophers. Petritsi did a lot for the formation of Georgian philosophical terminology. Many of the terms he developed are also used by modern philosophers.

Poetry also occupies a significant place in ancient Georgian church literature. Following the examples of translated liturgical poetry already in the 8th century. original Georgian poetic works appear. Notable in this regard is the huge collection of Michael Modrekili (late 10th century), an anthology of church poetry with original musical symbols. There are known examples of Georgian church poetry called “iambiko”. They have a certain meter and later appear under the influence of folklore and rhyme. A later classic form for Georgian poetry also appeared - “shairi” (a poetic meter in which each stanza contains 16 syllables). The authors of the original poetic works are many famous Georgian scribes, including John Minchkhi, George the Svyatogorets, Ephraim Mtsire, King David the Builder (1089–1025), the most educated man of his time, the founder of the library, who himself wrote amazingly powerful works Chant of repentance.

The emergence of secular fiction. General review.

The beginning of Georgian secular fiction should be dated to the 10th–11th centuries. By the end of the 10th century. the process of consolidation of feudal formations into a large centralized state; the ethnic name “Kartli” gives way to the cultural and political term “Sakartvelo” (lit. “Country of Kartvels,” i.e. Georgians). Geographical, cultural and scientific horizons are expanding. By that time, interest in exact sciences, astronomy, and medicine was increasing. Cultural ties with eastern countries, especially with the Islamic world. All this creates the preconditions for the emergence of Georgian secular fiction. The strong, centuries-old traditions of Georgian church literature became the basis for secular literature. Spiritual literature also contributed to acquaintance with the cultural world of Greek antiquity: in the translated works of Christian Byzantine authors there is detailed information about Greek mythology. Hagiographic fiction, "spiritual novels" type Wisdom of Balavar prepared the way for secular fiction. Hagiography, with its heroes - fighters for Christianity - opened the way for the appearance in secular literature of the ideal hero of the knightly and romantic epic. Georgian secular fiction adopted many compositional patterns and forms from church literature. The Georgian literary language, which has a five-century history, with its strong norms and rich vocabulary, became the basis for the language of secular literature, which, for its part, introduced a lot of new things into the language from living colloquial speech. Georgian folklore also had a great influence on fiction (both prose and poetry).

From the early stage the existence of secular literature, it is characterized by humanism. Man, with his personal feelings and worldly aspirations, appears in Georgian literature much earlier than in the literature of other Christian peoples of Europe, thus anticipating the European Renaissance.

Secular literature of the 11th–12th centuries.

Not all monuments of secular literature, especially early ones, have reached us; the existence of some can be judged only by their mention by later authors. The earliest work of a secular nature that has come down to us is Visramiani. The plot of the work reveals thematic similarities with the novel about Tristan and Isolde. It describes Ramin's love for the beautiful Vis, the wife of his brother, Shah Moabad. The lovers, helped by the nanny, experience many misadventures, but after the death of Moabad they unite their lives, and, having reigned for 83 years, die together - after the death of Vis Ramin voluntarily imprisons himself in her tomb. The work is a free prose translation of a poem by the Persian poet Fakhr-ud-Din Gurgani; came down in copies of the 12th–14th centuries, but the translation was made earlier, during the reign of Queen Tamar (1189–1213), since the suffering of lovers is mentioned in Rustaveli’s poem Knight in leopard skin. According to the work, love is the most important event in a person’s life, its meaning. Separated lovers shed streams of tears and strive for death. Sargis Tmogveli is traditionally considered the translator. Visramiani became very popular, despite the hostility towards him from some (mainly clerical) circles. The novelty of the plot and psychological situations, the description of the pains and joys of earthly love are contrasted Visramiani the church literature preceding it, where the highest goal of human existence was considered to be serving God in the name of salvation of the soul. Honed mastery of words, subtlety and precision of artistic means, richness of vocabulary contributed to the fact that Visramiani has long been perceived not as a translation, but as an original work of Georgian fiction.

Amirandarejaniani- a prose work, such as a “chivalrous romance”, consisting of 12 parts. Its author, according to tradition, is considered to be Mose Khoneli; There is no biographical information about him. Chronological framework writings should be limited to the 11th–12th centuries. Most likely, it was created during or slightly earlier than the reign of Queen Tamar, as indicated by some realities. The novel describes the semi-fantastic feats performed by the heroes. The location of the action is conventionally “eastern”. The work brings together, rather carelessly in compositional terms, several different cycles of legends and fairy tales, most of which Georgian origin, although there are also so-called “wandering” stories among them. The work is not translated; the author is a Georgian who brought together all the material around central character– Amiran; his name coincides with the name of the hero of Georgian folklore. The legend about Amiran has many similarities with the legend about Prometheus. The cult of heroic chivalry clearly emerges in Amirandarejaniani; heroes with fantastic strength fight terrible beasts and hordes of enemies; friendship between brothers and assistance in times of need is a mandatory characteristic of heroes; however, the motive of love - an indispensable attribute of the chivalric romance of a later time - is less expressed here. Amirandarejaniani was quite popular; Having his roots in folklore, he, for his part, subsequently influenced Georgian folklore.

The most significant work epic genre is a poem by Shota Rustaveli Knight in leopard skin.

The lyrical genre of Georgian poetry of the classical period is presented in Tamariani, the author of which, according to legend, is considered to be Chakhrukhadze, and in another poem - Abdulmesiani. Both works are odes of praise; the first is in honor of Queen Tamar and her husband, David Soslani. The second, written, according to legend, by John Shavteli, praises David the Renewer and Queen Tamar. Both are written in a meter called “chakhrukhauli” - a 20-syllable verse with a complex rhyme system; Both poems demonstrate masterly mastery of verse and words, the musicality of the verse and the richness of internal and external rhymes.

In the 11th–12th centuries. An original Georgian historiography is developing, in which national identity finds its expression. From works of this nature the main narrative source on the history of Georgia was subsequently compiled - Kartlis Tskhovreba, which has come down to us in lists of the 16th–17th centuries. Leonty Mroveli (2nd half of the 11th century) compiled a large historical work. Leonty used many ancient sources and hagiographic works when describing the ancient history of Georgia. Life of King of Kings David written by a contemporary of David the Renewer shortly after his death in the first half of the 12th century. The life and exploits of the king, who liberated the country from foreigners and turned it into a strong, flourishing state, are described in detail; Numerous literary parallels, figurative comparisons, and rhetorical passages present the work not only as a historical work, but also as a classic example of Georgian prose. Stories and praises of the crowned people, praising Queen Tamar in its main part, is also of interest as a work of art. It clearly conveys knowledge of both the Hellenic-Byzantine-Christian culture and the Persian-Arab cultural world. Other historical works describe events of later times. In the 13th–15th centuries. Georgia has gone through a difficult period in its history. The destructive invasions of the Khorezmians, Mongols and Tatars devastated the country and caused its collapse. All this could not but affect its culture. However, in the 13th–15th centuries. significant literary works appear ( Life of Peter Iver, Zhamtaagmtsereli and etc.).

Literature of the Renaissance.

From the beginning of the 16th century. V Georgian culture The Renaissance begins. Despite the difficult political situation of the country, which by this time had become an arena for the clash of political interests of two neighboring Muslim countries - Iran and Turkey - Georgia began to gradually become involved in the circle of European and Russian political and cultural aspirations. In Georgian literature, the national motif is strengthening, the themes are expanding; new genres and literary forms appear. In the 18th century, when contacts with Russia became closer, translations from Russian appeared. Free translations of many examples of Persian literature are becoming popular. Part Shah-Name Ferdowsi was translated into prose and then re-arranged into poetry. The cycle about Rustam was especially popular. Alterations and continuations of the poem by Rustaveli and others appear romantic works(traditional Persian stories), didactic works (translated and original) are distributed. An example of a fairy tale epic - Rusudaniani– twelve “fairy tales” that contain many Christian-religious, national and didactic motifs. Written no later than the 17th century.

Teimuraz I, King of Kakheti, (1589–1663) - a man of tragic fate, who lost his throne and family (his mother died a martyr for refusing to convert to Islam, two sons were castrated), died in exile in Persia. However, all of his work is strongly influenced by Persian literature. Four of his poems are written on traditional themes for Persian poetry (for example, Leil-Majnuniani). The original poem describing the death of his own mother is written in the same style. Religious-Christian motives are clearly visible in Teimuraz's lyrics. Archil II (1647–1713) reigned in Imereti (Western Georgia) and Kakheti. Having lost both thrones, he spent the last years of his life in Moscow. He was engaged in translations, wrote lyrical works, historical and philosophical poems. Man's conflict with life created under the influence of Russian compositions Debate of belly and death. In Russia, Archil was engaged in cultural activities; editing, translation and publication of books of the Georgian Bible.

Sulkhan-Saba Orbeliani (1658–1725) – a representative of an aristocratic family, related to royal family, was a writer, scientist, diplomat. In 1698 he took monastic vows under the name of Saba (Sava), but continued to be active. Trying to interest European countries in the fate of Georgia, he traveled to Europe on a diplomatic mission in 1713–1716. He visited Italy and France and was received by the Pope and Louis XIV. Together with Vakhtang VI he moved to Russia, where he died. The most significant literary work – The wisdom of lies, a collection of parables built according to a traditional scheme: parables are told by different persons living at the royal court for the edification of the young prince. The parables themselves, although they have some parallels with well-known collections of parables (for example, with Kalila and Dimna), most likely taken from Georgian folklore, which has many common “vagrant” stories. Sulkhan-Saba described his journey to Europe (the first part of it has been preserved), and wrote a collection of teachings. Sulkhan-Saba Orbeliani's language is simple, clear, close to a living spoken language. An important work of Sulkhan-Saba Orbeliani, which has retained its significance to this day, is the documented explanatory dictionary of the Georgian language compiled by him, the material for which he collected and edited for thirty years. Sulkhan-Saba Orbeliani was also involved in editing the Georgian Bible. He also edited the collection translated by his great-nephew Vakhtang VI Kalila and Dimny.

Vakhtang VI (1675–1737), who spent many years of his life in Persia, lived in Russia from 1724 until his death, vainly hoping to find help to free the Georgians from Persian rule. He is the author of many lyrical works; his poems, written in the elegiac manner traditional for that time, reflect genuine feelings. Vakhtang in 1709 founded the first printing house in Georgia, where in 1712 the first edition of Rustaveli’s poem with textual comments by Vakhtang was printed; under his leadership the collection was compiled and edited Kartlis Tskhovreba (History of Georgia) and code of laws; He also owns translations of many scientific books. David Guramishvili (1705–1792) spent most of his life outside Georgia, since in 1729 he was kidnapped by Lezgins and transported to the North Caucasus. He managed to escape and get to Moscow, where he ended up in the retinue of Vakhtang VI. Having become a military man, he ended his days in Ukraine, in Mirgorod, on an estate granted to him. A collection of works by David Guramishvili compiled by himself, entitled Davitiani. It includes 4 poems and lyric poems. In a historical poem full of drama Sorrows of Kartli he described the suffering experienced by his homeland, and directly indicated that their cause was not only the countless invasions of various enemies, but also internal strife and moral degradation. His philosophical poems discuss the opposition of life and death, the relationship between man and the world around him.

Teaching to students- didactic and edifying work. His poems are very spontaneous and lyrical, although the pessimism and sadness of the author deprived of his homeland are manifested here too. The form of David Guramishvili's verse is varied. Here it is not only “shairi”, which has been the dominant form in poetry since the time of Rustaveli; David Guramishvili uses folklore poetic meters; its versification is also enriched by Russian and Ukrainian folklore. The original meter of the poem Shepherd Katzviya, where in a half-joking form the misadventures of young lovers trying to encroach on the sanctity of the marital bed are described. The folk storyteller Sayat-Nova, who lived at the end of the 18th century, was an Armenian by nationality, wrote poetry and sang in Armenian, Georgian and Azerbaijani. Besarion Gabashvili, better known as Besiki (c. 1750–1791), was a poet and diplomat. His successful career at the court of Irakli II, political motives probably interfered, then he was engaged in diplomatic activities at the court of the king of Imereti (Western Georgia); sent to negotiate with General Potemkin, he died in Iasi, where he was buried. Love lyrics stand out most clearly in his poetry, although he also has very caustic satirical poems. His love lyrics are expressive, which is facilitated by the musicality and lightness of his poems, various poetic meters. The vocabulary is rich, the style is close to folk; however, in prose, in epistolary and historical works, he was influenced by the “high calm”, which became widespread in the Georgian literary language under the influence of the literary school of Catholicos Anthony (1720–1788).

Literature of the 19th century.

The annexation of Georgia to Russia in 1801 caused many changes in the cultural life of Georgian society. On the one hand, the loss of political independence caused a sharp reaction from society and led to a rise in patriotic feelings, which was reflected in literature. On the other hand, communication with Russian culture and, through Russian, with European culture, brought new trends to all areas of art and, first of all, to literature.

In 1819, the “Gruzinskaya Gazeta” began to be published in Russian, in 1829, “Tiflis Gazette,” and in 1832, the magazine “Literary Part of Tiflis Gazette,” edited by one of the participants in the 1832 conspiracy, Solomon Dodashvili.

In the works of writers, especially poets, in the 1st half of the 19th century. both the traditions of classical Georgian literature and the moods that arose under the influence of new factors are expressed. Therefore, the Georgian romanticism that emerged at this time is not homogeneous. At its origins stands Alexander Chavchavadze (1786–1846), a representative of a brilliant aristocratic family, godson of Catherine II, participant in the Patriotic War of 1812. He took part in the conspiracy of 1832 (for which he was exiled to the Tambov province, but soon received forgiveness). Alexander Chavchavadze was the father-in-law of A.S. Griboyedov. The main motive of his poetry is the melancholy caused by the loss of national independence and the glorification of the heroic past of Georgia. Pessimistic thoughts about the futility of existence are also evident in his lyrics; love lyrics also occupy a significant place in creativity. His poetics are characterized by fourteen-syllable verse with cross rhyme. Chavchavadze translated a lot (of Russian and French writers).

Grigol Orbeliani (1804–1883) was also from an aristocratic family; From his youth he chose a military career. He also participated in the conspiracy of 1832, but after returning from exile in 1838 he held high positions, received the rank of adjutant general and at one time served as the tsar's governor in the Caucasus. His poem Happy toast glorifies the former greatness of Georgia, glorifies its heroes. Elegiac moods clearly appear in his poems, distinguished by literary skill and novelty of poetic forms. Nikoloz Baratashvili is the most outstanding romantic poet of the 19th century. In his work, traditional “eastern” artistic traditions faded into the background, thereby laying the foundation for Europeanism in Georgian literature. One of the main themes of Baratashvili’s lyrics is the contradiction between the poet’s high aspirations and the lack of spirituality of his everyday surroundings.

By the middle of the 19th century. changes are taking place in Georgian literature, prose begins to develop, reflecting real life, images of merchants (L. Ardaziani), serf owners selling serfs like cattle (D. Chonkadze) appear. An original comedy emerges, the founder of which was G. Eristavi (1813–1864). The heroes of his comedies ( Litigation, Chapter) - impoverished nobles, merchants who came from the bottom - are depicted by the author in a realistic manner.

The name of Ilya Chavchavadze (1837–1907) is associated with significant phenomena in the social and literary life of Georgia in the second half of the 19th century. He was educated at St. Petersburg University. His very first speech in print, which argued the relevance of abandoning pseudo-archaic language forms and the need to bring the literary written language closer to the people's spoken language, caused a sharp reaction from writers of the older generation. In the poem Bandit Kako and stories The Beggar's Tale the horrors of serfdom are shown. Social and philosophical problems of existence are discussed in the poem Vision. In the story Widow Otarashvili the psychological drama of social inequality in the post-reform era is drawn, the tragic fate of the peasant Georgy, who fell in love with Princess Keso, is shown. Poem Hermit, created on the basis of a folk legend, speaks of the spiritual collapse of a person striving to find the salvation of the soul in avoiding real life. In his journalistic articles, Ilya Chavchavadze touches on many issues of the history and culture of Georgia, politics and public life. Chavchavadze was a publisher, editor, founder of a noble bank, and chairman of the Society for the Promotion of Literacy among Georgians. He was elected to the State Duma of Russia, where he opposed the institution of the death penalty. Because of his political and national views, he was sharply attacked by Georgian Social Democrats; was killed in an ambush near Tbilisi while returning to his estate. Ilya Chavchavadze's language, especially in prose, is a precise, expressive example of honed skill.

Akaki Tsereteli (1840–1915), known primarily as a lyric poet, whose poems were known throughout Georgia, was a writer and public figure, a faithful ally of Ilya Chavchavadze. His historical stories and poems introduced the reader to the heroic past of Georgia. In poetry glorifying the beloved, the beloved is always allegorically perceived as the Motherland - Georgia, which is in captivity. Akaki Tsereteli's poems are distinguished by their exceptional musicality and lightness, many of them are set to music ( Suliko and etc.).

Alexander Kazbegi (1848–1893) was the author of works about the life of the Georgian highlanders, which he, having spent seven years as a simple shepherd, knew well (he came from a noble family). His heroes place honor and freedom above all else. In the story Heavisbury Gotcha The father with his own hand executes his son, who, carried away by a meeting with his beloved, unwittingly betrayed his own, allowing the enemy to attack them. Vazha-Pshavela (Luka Razikashvili, 1861–1915) was also brought up on mountain traditions; in his work, many subjects based on folk tales and legends received a deep philosophical and ethical understanding. In the poem Aluda Ketelauri Aluda, who killed Mutsal, a man from a hostile tribe, in a fierce battle, did not want to cut off the dead man’s right hand as a sign of victory, since he was touched by the courage of the enemy. He brought a black calf to the local shrine, intending to dedicate it to the soul of Mutsal, whom he had killed; when the angry hewisber (elder) refused to fulfill his request, Aluda himself made a sacrifice, for which he was expelled from the community. The tragic opposition between the will of the individual and the community is also shown in the poem Host and guest, where the Kistinian Jokola, citing the custom of hospitality, refused to hand over to his fellow villagers his blood enemy, Khevsur Zviadauri, who turned out to be a random guest in his house. The pinnacle of Vazha-Pshavela’s creativity is the poem Snake eater. Mindia, who is captured by the wizards, eats snake meat in order to die and get rid of his hated captivity. However, this act does not bring him death, but an understanding of the language of nature. There is a tragic collision between a person who has comprehended the highest secret - the wisdom of the universe, and people acting in accordance with the needs of their daily existence. The defeated Mindia, who has lost his magical gift, has only one way out - death. Epic creativity Vazha-Pshavela includes heroic, tragic and humanistic principles. For him, nature is a part of the universe, living its own animated life. His language, which reveals many features of his native dialect, is also one of the characteristic aspects of his artistic heritage. David Kldiashvili (1862–1931), who came from Western Georgia, described with realistic accuracy the life of the small impoverished nobility; the comical situations in which his heroes find themselves often turn into tragic ones ( Stepmother Samanishvili).

Literature of the 20th century.

20th century brought many changes to Georgian literature. Along with representatives of the older generation, writers appeared whose work was influenced by both new trends in literature and art, and directly by the turbulent events of the new century. Many Georgian writers were forced to subordinate their talent to the demands of the communist regime, and many became victims of political repression. Mikheil Javakhishvili (1880–1937), a multifaceted writer and brilliant stylist, was shot as an “enemy of the people.” His Kvachi Kvachantiradze- a story about an adventurer whose adventures take place against the backdrop of pre- and post-revolutionary events in Europe and Russia. IN Khizanah Jako shown former prince, educated intellectual Teimuraz Khevistavi, due to social cataclysms, forced to seek shelter (i.e., became a “khizan”) with the rich, illiterate, disgusting nouveau riche Jako, who in his aggressive ignorance mocks the unfortunate Teimuraz, to the point of turning him wife as his concubine and maidservant. Historical novel Arsen from Marabda– a wide canvas depicting Georgia in the first half of the 19th century. after its annexation to Russia. The hero of the novel is the serf peasant Arsen, who is fighting social injustice; he "took from the rich and gave to the poor." He is a man of high morals and pure thoughts, but his defeat and death are inevitable. Numerous novels and stories by Mikheil Javakhishvili are characterized by a wealth of vocabulary and serve as an example of modern literary language. Grigol Robakidze (1880–1962) was one of the most active members of the Blue Horns literary association. Poet, short story writer, playwright, Grigol Robakidze at the beginning of his work was strongly influenced by Russian poets (V. Brusov, N. Gumilyov). He studied in Germany, spent the second half of his life in exile, and died in Europe. In his works Snake skin, Palaestra tried to philosophically comprehend the essence of human existence. Many of his later works are written in German. This, together with a passion for the work of Nietzsche, made it possible for Soviet criticism to accuse him of adherence to fascism. His drama Lamara in the 1930s it was staged on the Georgian stage and had great success in Russia.

Konstantin Gamsakhurdia (1891–1975) – the largest prose writer and novelist in Georgia in the 20th century. His early novel Smile of Dionysus, which is to some extent autobiographical, is dedicated to the problem “ extra person" V modern world. Luna Abduction- a novel whose plot is externally built on collectivization in Western Georgia (in Abkhazia and Samegrelo); in fact, here again the conflict of the old world with the new is shown; in the new edition of 1990, in which the author’s original text is reproduced, the emphasis is not placed in favor of the new; Gamsakhurdia was forced to praise Soviet reality in Flowering vine And To the leader(describing Stalin's childhood). Historical novels brought him enormous popularity, especially Hand of the Great Master. Using folk legend about the builder of the Svetitskhoveli Temple (in Mtskheta), Gamsakhurdia created not just a “historical” novel using names real persons, but a truly artistic work, showing the intensity of human passions and tragic fate artist in a society based on tyranny, which gave the work a completely modern sound. Another novel by Gamsakhurdia David the Builder describes events of the 11th–12th centuries. – expulsion of the Seljuk Turks and consolidation of the Georgian state. Gamsakhurdia is a great master of words, although at times not without deliberate mannerisms in his writing. Leo Kiacheli (1884–1963) is the author of many novels and stories. Tariel Golois– historical novel about the events of 1905 in Western Georgia; Gwadi Bigwa– about the transformation of the psyche of the Gwadi peasant under the influence of the process of collectivization in the countryside; however, the author deliberately leads the reader to a tragic ending: the confrontation between Gwadi and his “class enemy” leads to Gwadi becoming a murderer. IN Khaki Adzba The hero of the same name, a peasant, does not understand why he should consider his foster brother, Prince Emkh, who was raised by ancient custom by his mother. This relationship is no less strong than blood, and, having failed to protect Emkh, Khaki Adzba dies with him.

At the beginning of the 20th century. A galaxy of young poets appears in Georgian poetry, whose work has brought a lot of new things both in the direction of creative thought and in the field of poetic technique. The poets, known as the “Goluborogovtsev” (after the name of the almanac published in 1916), were strongly influenced by Russian symbolism. Many of them later became famous lyric poets. Galaktion Tabidze (1891–1959) is undoubtedly the most important poet of the first half of the 20th century. Thanks to his virtuoso technique of verse, he gave it a new, modern sound; the most complex poetic images are revealed in his crystal-clear, musical verses. The themes of his poetry are multifaceted: from “pure” lyrics to motives of daily life; thematic diversity is characteristic of poems from all periods of his work, but in all cases the mastery and diversity of his metrical-rhythmic structures and transparency of sound are manifested. Poetry of Galaktion Tabidze ( Mary, Moon on Mtatsminda), remains the pinnacle of Georgian poetic thought; she influenced the entire development of Georgian poetry of subsequent times. His poems have been translated into Russian by many poets, and there are translations into other languages. Titian Tabidze (1895–1937) – cousin of G. Tabidze, author of many lyrical masterpieces. His poetry contains extraordinary symbolic images, especially in the early period.

G. Tabidze translated Russian and other poets (Pushkin, Mayakovsky) into Georgian, and was a friend of B. Pasternak. Fell a victim of political repression. Paolo Iashvili (1892–1937), a talented poet, was driven to suicide. Georgy Leonidze (1900–1966) is a poet whose verse is full-bodied and reveals a variety of new artistic images. He collected and researched the vocabulary of his native land, wrote literary studies and sketches. Irakli Abashidze (1911–1995) – representative of the older generation in modern literature. It is especially popular Palestinian cycle– poems and poems dedicated to Rustaveli; they were written under direct impressions, after the author’s participation in a scientific expedition to Jerusalem to discover Rustaveli’s frescoes in the Cross Monastery. Lado Asatiani (1917–1943) lived a short life, shackled by a serious illness, but managed to say a lot. In his poems, which sound major, he glorifies the joy of life, dates with friends, remembers the heroes of the past who gave their lives for their Motherland; His poems and poems have a simple, clear style and clear rhythm. Lado Asatiani remains one of the most popular poets in Georgia.

In the 2nd half. 20th century a new generation of poets is emerging: Anna Kalandadze (b. 1924) received universal recognition immediately after the publication of her first poems in the 1950s. They revealed the almost complete absence of official Soviet themes characteristic of her poetry; her poems, usually small, are distinguished by their unusual perception of the surrounding world and filigree decoration; many are like “still lifes”, in which references to flowers, trees and mountains are an expression of the author’s mood and feelings. At the same time, the transfer of subjective feelings never develops into autobiography; A. Kalandadze’s poetry cannot be considered typically “feminine”; it almost completely lacks love themes. Lyrical intonations are heard in poems dedicated to historical figures (St. Nina, the enlightener of Georgia, David the Builder).

Other famous poets of the older generation: Murman Lebanidze (1922–1997), Mukhran Machavariani (b. 1929), Shota Nishnianidze (1924–1995). Many young writers were carried away by the war in 1941–45. In this war, Georgia, although it did not reach it German occupation, paid a heavy tribute: of the 700 thousand young people who went to the front, more than half did not return home. Military themes are reflected in many works, especially in poetry: some poems ( Do not be sad G. Leonidze, Captain Bukhaidze I. Abashidze) became folk songs.

Since the 1950s, new trends have emerged in Georgian literature, which were especially reflected in prose. New names appeared: N. Dumbadze, G. Rcheulishvili, R. Inanishvili. Some writers of the older generation, known as poets, appeared before the reading public as prose authors ( Wishing Tree G. Leonidze). Otar Chiladze (b. 1933), who became famous as a poet, wrote several novels that are very complex in their versatility; they combine realistic and mythological motifs, allegorical parables and tragic characters ( A man walked along the road 1972, Anyone who finds me 1976). Human difficult fate, Chabua Amirejibi (b. 1921) appeared before the reading public as a writer, after many years of exile for political dissidence and repeated daring escapes. Date Tutashkhia(1972) is a large and complex novel. Its main character, truth-seeker Data Tutashkhiya, becomes an outlaw, a robber. The action of the novel is transferred to pre-revolutionary times; Its motives are the opposition of evil to good and a person’s personal choice. Data's double is his foster brother, Mushni Zarandia, who made a different choice and became a royal gendarme. The novel shows the complex relationship between these people without any false sentimentality; Many characters are presented in a harsh, sometimes sarcastic manner. The novel was a great success (it was published in Russian, translated by the author himself), and a television film was made based on it. Lots of autobiographical elements in the second novel Mount Mborgali(1995), describing the life of a political exile.

Natia Revishvili

Literature:

Kikodze G. (XIX century.). Tb., 1947 (in Georgian)
History of Georgian literature, Moscow, 1947
Kotetishvili V. History of Georgian literature(XIX century.). Tb., 1959 (in Georgian)
Kekelidze K.S. Concise course of ancient Georgian literature. Sketches on the history of ancient Georgian literature, vol. IX, Tb., 1963
Baramidze A.G. Gamezardashvili D.M. Georgian literature, Tb., 1968
Chilaya S. Recent Georgian literature, vol. 1–3, Tb. 1972–1975 (in Georgian)
Chilaya S., Georgian literature of the 20th century, parts 1–3, Tb., 1996 (in Georgian)
Kiknadze G.K., Essays, vol. 3, Tb., 1999 (articles on Georgian literature, in Georgian)
Rayfield D. The Literature of Georgia: Curzon Prers. Caucasian World, 2000
Kiknadze G.K. Essays, vol. 2, Tb., 2003 (articles on Georgian literature, in Georgian)
Team of authors. History of Georgian literature, vol. 2., Tb., 2004 (in Georgian)

"Vano, Niko and the Hunt"

One day it seemed to Niko that Vano was a bird, and he himself was a hunter.

Vano was worried and thought: “What should I do, I’m not a bird, I’m Vano.” But Niko didn’t believe it, he bought a double-barreled gun and began looking at the sky. He was waiting for Vano to take off so he could kill him. But the sky was empty.

Vano was really afraid to turn into a bird and fly away; he carried stones in his pocket so as not to fly up; ate a lot so as not to fly up; I didn’t look at swallows, lest I learn to fly; I didn’t look at the sky so that I wouldn’t want to fly.

Niko,” Vano said to Niko, “throw away this gun and don’t look at the sky.” I'm not a bird, I'm Vano... What kind of bird am I?

You're a bird and it's over! Take off quickly, I'll shoot. I'm a hunter.

Niko, - Vano said to Niko, - well, what kind of bird am I when I am Vano.

“Don’t bother me,” Niko said, “don’t bother me, otherwise I’ll shoot.” If you're on the ground, I'll still shoot as if you've just landed.

Vano fell silent and left.

Arriving home, Vano had a hearty lunch, sewed many pockets on his shirt, filled them with stones and thought about it.

“Niko probably doesn’t know what a bird is, otherwise he didn’t turn I wish I was a bird.

Nodar Dumbadze

"Dog"

This story began in August '41 and ended exactly two years later.

Our village felt the harsh breath of war within a month. The collective farmer, accustomed to a prosperous life, could not immediately comprehend the horror of what had happened, did not calculate his capabilities, and it so happened that the barns and chests in many houses were empty already in August, and in our house even earlier...

Grandfather Spiridon, exhausted by dropsy, sat by the fireplace day and night, and all the household chores fell on my shoulders. What a farm! Even now my back begins to ache when I remember how much firewood and brushwood I hauled from the forest: the poor old man would have been lost without heat.

On August 25, the last piece of mchadi was eaten. Grandfather took a ten-liter bottle of vodka from the closet, sealed with a stalk, and said:

Put it in the basket, go to Chokhatauri and exchange it for a pound of corn. The one who offers less, pour this very vodka over him, break the bottle and return home... The vodka is mulberry, and it’s eighty degrees, you have to understand!.. That’s it.

Mikho Mosulishvili

"Dance with the Rock"

"If in the eternal snow forever you

You will lie over you, as if over a loved one,

The mountain ranges will tilt

The strongest obelisk in the world."

Vladimir Vysotsky, “To the Top” (In Memory of Mikhail Khergiani).

One day, in the fall of 1968, my uncle took me, a six-year-old boy, to watch rock climbers training in the Tbilisi Botanical Garden.

And then I, sitting in an exclusively elite place, in the “Benoir box,” that is, on my uncle’s neck, saw a stunning sight.

No, it couldn't be called rock climbing.

It was a dance on a rock! Or with a rock! Oh, how delicately, like a cat, one of them in particular moved. Indeed, it was as if he was dancing, deftly climbing up the rock. With just one finger he caught on protrusions that others did not notice.

Who is he? - asked my uncle.

Which? - squinting his eyes, watery in the sun, he looked at me.

That's the one dancing on the rock.

And did you like it? - Uncle rejoiced. - He is the Tiger of the Rocks!

Why Tiger?

The newspapers wrote that for his ability to traverse difficult rock routes with incredible speed, he received the nickname “Tiger of the Rocks” from English climbers.

Who is he really?

Misha Khergiani!

Is it true? And I’m Misha too! - I was delighted.

Yes, you are the namesake! - uncle laughed. “And they also say that if he catches a bare ledge of rock with just one finger, he will hang over the abyss for a whole week and will not utter a groan...

Akaki Tsereteli

"Bashi-Achuk"
(historical story)

Chapter first

From somewhere in the vast distance, the seething Aragva rushes, wriggling like a snake, and, making its way, furiously, with a swing, flies into a steep cliff! Thrown back by the indestructible stronghold, deafened, stunned, it stops its run here, as if to catch its breath, and, spinning in place, rushes forward again, but flows more slowly, more carefully, carrying its waters into the valley with a groan and roar.

At the top of this sheer cliff, cutting through the clouds, a huge impregnable castle rises, like a reliable sentry, looking over the surrounding area from above. The castle is surrounded by a high, strong fence, and only from the east is a balcony stretching along the entire wall visible.

The castle had already had lunch. Eristav Zaal, a venerable old man, sat with his legs crossed on an ottoman that stood in the corner of the balcony, fingering his rosary.

Right next to it, pushing a chair right up to the railing, Saal’s wife was reading “The Canon of Passions.” The Psalter lay on her lap; Having read the psalm - and she had to repeat it forty times around the clock - the princess crossed herself and moved another knot on the cord that replaced her rosary.

Alexander Kazbegi

"Eleanor"

Young and playful, pampered and crafty, capricious and beautiful Eleanor, the daughter of the wealthy feudal lord Vakhtang Kheltubneli, was the subject of dreams of the youth of that time.

Everyone who was noble enough, rich and brilliant, relentlessly sought her hand, everyone dreamed of the honor of becoming her husband, inventing thousands of ways to please her. But Eleanor, arrogant in her beauty and proud that her father was the ruler of the entire region, came from the most noble family in the country and possessed untold wealth, laughed at her admirers, at the same time attracting them to her, kindling the fire of love in them , without submitting to anyone herself. Many young people surrounded the beautiful girl, they sighed, yearned for her, deprived of sleep and peace, but everything was in vain. Their fiery words, impetuous selfless actions and fiery sparkling glances were unable to soften Eleanor’s hearts, could not melt the icy armor around her.

Anna Antonovskaya

"The Great Mouravi"
(epic novel in 6 books)

Book one "Waking of the Leopard"

Part one

A gloomy cliff with mossy sides loomed over the abyss. Suddenly, a golden eagle flew off his slightly bent shoulder. Spread out as if forged from black

iron wings and angrily opening its beak, curved like a bent spear tip, the predator rushed towards the sun. The stunned sun staggered and fell, and instantly shattered into pieces, dropping red-green-orange splashes on

the purple heights of Didgori.

“Oh!.. ho!..” - the cart creaked as it emerged from the hazel thickets. Tugging at the yoke with their wrinkled necks, two buffalos, slightly squinting their bulging eyes, indifferently walked towards the mountain forest. Papuna Chivadze, standing up, wanted to express his opinion about the impolite behavior of the golden eagle, but... why was it sprawled on a steep ledge?

Either a leopard or another unknown solar beast with molten spots

on what appears to be a smoking skin. Papuna Chivadze decided to advise the sun so that,

leaving, it picked up its clothes, but something fell from the cart and hit

roadside stone. Picking up the wineskin and throwing it in place, Papuna Chivadze was going to think about the rules of communication between earthly travelers and those aboveground and heavenly, but suddenly a pink bird chirped excitedly in the branches of an oak tree struck by lightning and Papuna’s thoughts were transported to a small house where a “bird” similar to a pink one waiting for the promised beads. He wanted to use a twig to hurry the buffaloes, but changed his mind and indulged in contemplation of the silent forest.

The sun slipped behind the peaks, the golden eagle disappeared, the leopard faded. With a light tread

night descended onto the earth, dragging behind it a cloak strewn with shimmering

fireflies, or stars.

Konstantin Gamsakhurdia

"Hand of the Great Master"

Prologue

The Georgian Military Road is the most beautiful in the world, Dardimandi is a wonderful horse, and horse riding is the best vacation for me. When the sharp-faced, broad-chested, strong-legged spear, with pricked ears, looks at me, inexhaustible energy awakens in me, and it seems that I was born into the world again and have not yet had time to taste on this beautiful land the delight of fast horse running and the joy of movement.

I stroke Dardimandi’s small ears, like beech leaves, look into his black eyes and become infected with the irrepressible power that Mother Nature so generously awarded him...

It happened one day that my well-behaved horse suddenly got excited and flew into such a rage that he rode him in a quarry even as far as the Kara-Kums.

Opening his beautiful big eyes wide at the shiny cars and grimy trucks, he, absorbing space, carried me into the distance. I am not inclined to blame Dardimandi for the fact that the hot blood of a tireless horse boiled in him...

Before our eyes, Tbilisi has grown into a big city. The lights of electric lamps sparkle on Mount St. David, in the park named after Stalin. Electric balls, reflected in the waves of the Kura, sway near the Heroes' Bridge and along the wide Stalin embankment. And so, when cars with blinding headlights roared right into our ears, running away along the tarmac, factory sirens howled, tractors rumbled on their way to collective farms, and cyclists rang cheerfully, sedate Dardimandi began to shudder every minute, snort restlessly and gnaw at the bit. Neither the bit nor the mouthpiece can hold him. Stretching out his neck, curved like a swan's, he rushed forward. I tried to curb his impulse, to get my hands on him, but he, lifting his croup forward, suddenly walked sideways.

Guram Dochanashvili

"A thousand little worries"

They couldn't agree.

Come whenever you want,” the accountant repeated again and again.

But when, after all, you don’t sit here from morning to evening!

Here's a man! If I say it, it means I will.

Can't you really say for sure?

Whenever... What a man! When you decide, then come...

What if I don’t find you? - Sandro interrupted the accountant irritably. - I'm running out of time.

Don't worry, you'll find it. Do you have a cigarette?

They both lit a cigarette and seemed to calm down; The accountant even leaned back in his chair, blowing smoke towards the ceiling with pleasure, but Sandro again doubted and asked casually:

In general, do you visit in the first half of the day or in the afternoon?

Listen, friend... - The accountant was clearly offended. - I'm telling you, come any time. I won’t be there, you’ll have to wait, you messed up...

“I knew it,” Sandro got nervous, “I’ll lose the whole day here tomorrow!” Understand, we have to leave the day after tomorrow morning.

In the morning? And Margot said - in the evening.

They are there in the evening, and I have to go with the car in the morning...

Okay, okay, calm down. If you come tomorrow and receive it, the money will be written out.

Please don't forget about money for the surveyor.

I won’t forget, how can I forget! Don't worry!

Guram Megrelishvili

"Writer"

Stage I. How it all began

Like most young representatives of my generation, as a result of doing nothing, playing cards, dominoes and backgammon, smoking weed and reckless drinking, I fell into the deepest depression. In my vocabulary, with increasing frequency, phrases such as began to appear: - that’s it, I’m stuck... I’m all gone... nothing moves... I’m already flying... I don’t give a damn... etc. In addition, from a surprisingly flexible boy I turned into a conflicted, malicious and ruthless person.

I also had problems in my relationship with my parents (I hate: - Dad, give me two lari), I began to hate my relatives (screw them... what good are they?!), I began to hate my neighbors (and this sucker has such a car?! ) and almost became a policeman.

My nerves were all over the place. No job, no prospect of finding a job, no prospect of having a prospect of finding a job. In short, the only dream that I have left is to quickly grow old and die. And then an American book of wise thoughts fell into my hands. It said:

Stage II. What was written in the American book

wise thoughts: “If you don’t know what to do, get married!”

Leo Chiacheli

"Almasgir Kibulan"

The Svans worked at the Lenkher logging site, where the Khuberchala flows into the Enguri. About ten of them gathered. Almasgir Kibulan, a resident of the remote village of Khalde, was also here. Almasgir stood out sharply among his fellow countrymen with his heroic build - this is how the ancient tower rises above ordinary Svan houses.

With Kibulan came his son Givergil. Fellow villagers nicknamed the young man “Dali gezal”, which means “Son of Dali” - he was such a successful hunter!

Givergil was barely fifteen years old when his father took him to logging for the first time.

Almasgir was called from the village by his relative Bimurzola Margvelani. He was also from Khalde, but now lived permanently in Lenheri.

A year ago, Bimurzola agreed with the old contractor Kausa Pipiya that by the beginning of next summer he would hand over to him a hundred selected pine logs of a certain size in the village of Jvari. Having signed the agreement, Bimurzola received a deposit and permission to harvest timber from the contractor. In addition to Almasgir Kibulan and Givergil, Bimurzola recruited several more of his former neighbors - experienced lumberjacks - to work.

Guram Petriashvili

"Baby Dinosaur"

In ancient times, dinosaurs grazed on the endless plain.

The dinosaurs were huge, enormous, each one ten times larger than an elephant.

Clumsy, clumsy, they were too lazy to take an extra step. Stretching out their long neck, they moved their heads from side to side day after day. Only after plucking all the grass in front of them did they reluctantly move on.

This is how dinosaurs grazed.

Slowly, deliberately, they moved and moved their jaws.

Why did they have to rush?

Grass - as much as you want, there is no end in sight to the plain.

Time dragged on unnoticed and monotonous.

Baby dinosaurs appeared, learned to pinch grass, grew up, became big dinosaurs, and, like all the others, ate grass from morning to evening, chewed and chewed.

But then one day a little kid looked up from the grass. Then he stretched his neck and raised his head even higher.

Oh, how wonderful it turns out to be to look up.

Niko Lomouri

"Mermaid"

I remember when I was still very small and could not confidently hold in my hand not only a shepherd’s whip, but even a rod used to drive oxen; At a time when I would not have been trusted not only with a herd, but even with a pig in a field, I had one cherished desire: I wanted to visit the forest. Everyone to whom I dared to express my desire invariably made me laugh.

What a miracle - a forest! What, baby, did you bury a treasure there or sow pearl seeds?

Treasure! Pearl grains! At that time I didn’t even understand the meaning of these words. My desires did not extend so far then.

Usually my father and my three uncles brought me from the forest either pigeon eggs, or a baby hare, or small squeaky quails; they gave me handfuls of hazelnuts with dense, juicy kernels - my favorite delicacy; They also brought me bunches of reddish flexible willow twigs, from which I then wove small ponds for the fish that lived in our river. Every spring I received as a gift a small, ringing pipe, skillfully carved from reed.

I felt infinitely happy at that time.

Egnate Ninoshvili

"Gogia Uishvili"

Again they placed an “ecution” in our village. Today the headman ran around everyone and announced: we must contribute ten rubles per house for the maintenance of this “ecution,” and also firewood, hay, corn, etc.! - with pain and hopelessness in her voice, Marina told her husband Gogia in the evening when he returned from work.

How! “Ekutsia” again!.. Have you gone crazy, woman! If they again set up an “ecution” for us, our hearth will cool down!.. - said Gogia, and his face frowned.

Are you angry with me, as if it were my fault! - Marina reproached her husband.

Got it wrong! I'm angry with you! Understand what I'm talking about! You should have told this anathema: pay the ransom for the corvee, pay the church tax for the maintenance of the priest, pay the postal tax, and pay the road tax, and you can’t even list what abyss of taxes we must supply with our hump. It didn’t seem enough to them, they say robbers are hiding among you, they took them and brought them to us last year“ecutia”, they ruined our village. That's what you should have told him! - this is what Gogia said, sitting down by the fireplace.

Otar Chiladze

"Iron Theater"

1
The land was transported on carts. Muddy water bubbled in the holes. Seedlings with roots wrapped in rags were scattered between the holes: some eccentric German had decided to plant a garden in the sand. In the port, several half-rotten barges rubbed their sides against each other. The distorted reflection of the mast swayed on the greenish surface of the sea. The seagulls screamed and burst into laughter. A dead horse lay on the shore. A rat suddenly jumped out of her torn belly, cut through the air like a missile, and flopped into the world. “Straight to Turkey,” dad said. But the most amazing thing was the milkman. The milkman's can teased him, sticking out his white, smoking tongue. The milkman himself had a hood tied around his head, and a long colorful tube protruded from his mouth, which he constantly sucked with a whistle. “I’ll put you in this vessel - your own father will never find you!” - he said with a smile. Together with the empty can, he carried away the remnants of food from yesterday's table. After it, a rich smell remained on the balcony, warm and moist. This is how the morning began.

Sulkhan-Saba Orbeliani

"On the Wisdom of Fiction"

There once lived a king whose deeds no one can imagine; he accumulated so much mercy in his heart through kindness and charity that he himself could not measure it. He conquered the ardor and cruelty of his angry heart with the blissful breath of fear of God, with generosity he quenched the heat more than the clouds carrying moisture; More abundant than the rain falling from heaven were the gifts with which he rewarded people.
Fear and trembling before him gripped the entire earth; people feared him more than thunder, but his mercy and affection were more captivating and sweeter than a mother’s nipples for a baby.
The name of this great and illustrious king was Phinez.
He had a vizier, his wisdom reached heaven. With his mind he measured the length and breadth of the earth's surface, with his learning he penetrated into the abysses of the sea, air phenomena and he inscribed the star paths on the tablets of his heart. With the gentleness of his speeches, he tamed wild animals, likening them to people. At his word, the rocks melted like wax, the birds spoke with human voices.
The name of this vizier was Sedrak.

Chabua Amirejibi

"Gossiping Magpie"

The fox, the donkey and the cuckoo brought the magpie to trial.
Leo yawned, put on his glasses and said:
- What was the magpie guilty of?
Lisa said:
- The magpie spread a rumor about me that I was tailless. I thought: if I lift my tail higher, everyone will see that I have a tail, and they won’t laugh at me anymore. Since then I have become accustomed to walking like this. Hunters see me from afar. And what is it like for me now, dear judge, to live without a tail, judge for yourself!..
The fox laid its tail, all singed and pierced with shot, on the table in front of the lion. Lev adjusted his glasses, examined him carefully, sighed and said:
- What a magnificent tail it was! No other animal had a tail like a fox!
The lion turned to the magpie and asked:
- Why did you lie?
- How did I know that she had such a bushy tail? I was wrong, forgive me! - answered the magpie.

Daniel Chonkadze

"Suram Fortress"

Last summer, when, exhausted by the unbearable heat, the residents of Tbilisi were looking for coolness outside the city, several young people, and among them your humble servant, agreed to gather every evening on the Sands, across the river, opposite the Anchiskhati church, and have fun there until late at night . Our agreement had the following condition: everyone had to tell some legend, parable or story from Georgian life.
It was one of those wonderful evenings that so often follow sultry days in our country. The young people had just swam in the river; some were drinking tea, others were still getting dressed, the rest surrounded D.B., - he, putting the container on his knee, was playing something and humming in a low voice. Some time later, when everyone had drunk tea and the servants began preparing for dinner, the young people remembered that they had not yet heard another story that evening. They began to find out whose turn it was today; It turned out that everyone had already said something. They asked for one, asked for another - but there were no hunters. I had to cast lots. One of us, getting up from his seat, began to count: “Itsilo, bitsilo, shroshano...”, etc. The counting ended with Niko D.
- Congratulations, Niko! Congratulations! - everyone shouted vying with each other.
- No, friends, spare me today. Really, I don’t know what to tell you, I wasn’t prepared.
- Eh, friend Niko! Remember God and start: “Once upon a time...”, and then it will go on its own, I assure you! - Siko said in an instructive tone.
- Okay... So listen! - And Niko began.

Mikhail Lokhvitsky

"Quest for the Gods"

Summer of 1867, March, the seventh day after the Nativity of Christ, according to the Gregorian calendar, or the first day of the month of Dhul Qaada, 1233, according to the Muslim calendar, or two weeks before the main day of the first month of the New, uncountable year from the generation of the Circassians by the Sun, according to According to the Adyghe chronology, over the Caucasus mountains the sky was blue, saturated with the hot radiance of the low and slowly floating daylight.
Hot rays melted the ice on the top of the mountain turned to the sun, streams of water crawled like snakes under the thickness of the compacted snow, eroded its connections with the frozen ground, and an avalanche, huge, like a Nart Alp horse, barely sighed, rushed into an ever-accelerating run along the steep slope , sealing the air. The solid mass of snow and air tore off piles of rocks from the base, cut off, like blades of grass, crooked oaks, spruces, and firs, and the gorge resounded with a quiet groan of horror.

Lado Mrelashvili

"Boys from Ikalto"

In a thunderstorm
The thunder rumbled with such force that it drowned out the crackling and creaking of trees bending under the gusts of wind. The rain poured down like buckets. Noisy streams rushed headlong along the slopes and plunged into the Ikalto ravine, where a swollen stream foamed and roared, turning over stones. There wasn't a soul around. On the balconies of houses and under the balconies, shaggy dogs lay with their noses buried in warm fluffy tails. And just outside the outskirts, near the forest, in an old, abandoned barn, lightning illuminated two boyish faces. Judging by their expressions, the boys didn’t care about the thunderstorm and wind raging outside the walls.
- What a night! - said one of them and sank down onto the straw that covered the entire barn.
- Yes, we got here on time, otherwise we wouldn’t dry out until the morning.
- Ha-ha-ha! At home they are now sure that I am with you. And your old people think that you are with us...
- Keep it down, Gogi, don’t laugh so loud!
- It’s okay, Sandro, in such noise no one will hear anyway.

Guram Panjikidze

"Seventh heaven"

1
Early July morning.
The air above the airfield is transparent and clean.
Passengers are crowding around the TU-104 ramp and talking loudly. The flight attendant, realizing the hopelessness of her efforts, tries to calm them down.
- Comrades! Comrades, take your time. You'll have time for everything.
Levan Khidasheli stands at a distance and silently looks at his restless fellow travelers. He doesn't like fuss.
Humming like bees, the passengers disappear one by one into the dark entrance hole.
The last one had already disappeared, but Levan still did not move. The flight attendant breathed a sigh of relief and only now noticed him. Levan felt eyes on him. Mechanically he reached into his pocket and wanted to take out a box of cigarettes, but suddenly he remembered that smoking was not allowed near the plane. He waved his hand in annoyance and picked up his sports bag.
-Are you in Tbilisi? - the flight attendant asked, looking at the ticket.
Levan didn’t answer.

Niko Lordkipanidze

"Bogatyr"

The Prangulashvili have long been famous throughout Lower Imereti for their heroic strength. No wonder they were often called Veshapidze. And in fact, they possessed as much monstrous strength as they had monstrous gluttony. In battles, the Veshapidzes never claimed primacy, but they wielded a dagger the size of a buffalo yoke as if it were a light twig.
And they used these weapons in a unique way. If an enemy detachment approached in single file, Prangulashvili struck the enemy directly in the chest or stomach, without distinguishing whether it was bone or pulp, with one blow they impaled two or three people on the tip of the dagger and gutted them like piglets. If the enemy attacked in deployed formation, they struck backhand from the right ear to the left thigh, crushing two opponents with one blow, and the third himself fell to the ground, either from horror in front of the sparkling blade, or overturned by an air wave.
The Prangulashvilis usually sent only one warrior to war, no more, no less, since their entire clan consisted of one family.

Grigol Abashidze

"The Long Night"

Georgian chronicle of the 13th century

CHAPTER FIRST
The children were playing by the stream flowing through a stone chute. Among them was a young man, probably no older than sixteen, although in appearance, both in height and in the width of his shoulders, and in the serious thoughtfulness in his face, he looked much older than his years. The young man was carefully adjusting the toy mill wheel. He stuck thin forks on both sides of the stream, placed the wheel axle on them and now gradually lowered it so that the light stream flying along a smooth chute touched the light wooden blades. Suddenly he took his hands away and straightened up. The wheel spun, spraying small cool drops onto the grass. The children crowded around the wonderful mill, crowding together and disturbing each other.
Straightening up, the young man really turned out to be tall, broad-shouldered, and slender. He stood above the stream, like a giant above a large river, resting his feet on different banks. And the water, and the fuss of the children, their squealing and cheerful laughter, were somewhere below, and the young man no longer saw the water flying along the gutter, nor the cheerful wheel, nor the children’s faces. Behind the nearby noise and laughter, he discerned something in the distance that made him alert and listen. Then he rushed to the wide gate that opened onto the road.
A lop-eared donkey trotted along the road. Sitting on it was not yet old, but, as you could see, he had grown heavy early, a loose man. He was pale with that sickly pallor that appears when a person moves little and sees little sun and fresh air.