Tbilisi exhibition honours great Georgian author Vazha-Pshavela
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A unique exhibition of original writings by one of Georgia's most famous authors marks 100 years since his death, starts today in capital Tbilisi.
Original handwritten material from the personal archives of prominent Georgian writer Vazha-Pshavela (born as Luka Razikashvili) (1861-1915) will be on display at the National Centre of Manuscripts, where visitors can learn more about how some of the acclaimed writer's best known pieces were created.
The Centre will present original texts of poetry, articles, personal notes and photographs from its archives in an educational exhibition titled From Notebook to Book Pages to illustrate what some of the author's famous works would have looked like if published in their original draft form.
The text on display - including Vazha-Pshavela's prominent poems Bakhtrioni (published in 1892) and Snake Eater (1901) - will also show original editing and corrections by the author.
A 19th Century photograph of Georgian author Vazha-Pshavela (L) with fellow writer Aleksandre Kazbegi.
The Manuscript Centre's week-long event will also feature public lectures about the writer, in which invited literary experts will speak about his life and work.
Born in 1861 in the mountainous Pshavi region in Georgia's northeast, Luka Razikashvili adopted the pen name Vazha-Pshavela to signify his highland origins.
Known for works featuring traditions and customs of Georgia's mountainous population, he published hundreds of well-known pieces including poems, plays, short stories as well as writings on literature and ethnographic topics.
Professor Donald Rayfield of the Queen Mary University of London called Vazha-Pshavela an author who was "qualitatively of a greater magnitude than any other Georgian writer" in his 1994 work The Literature of Georgia.
The Georgian author's works were translated into dozens of languages including Russian, French, English and German while also serving as basis for theatre and film adaptations.
The exhibition in Tbilisi will run until December 9, with public lectures scheduled for the final three days of the event.
Hundreds of Georgians and guests in the country are coming together today to celebrate a public holiday in honour of one of the country’s greatest writers and contributors to Georgian literature, Vazha Pshavela.
The most comprehensive collection of English translations of poems by Vazha-Pshavela, one of Georgia’s all-time iconic poets, will be introduced to audiences in London on Friday.