London celebrates life and poetry of Georgian poet, Nikoloz Baratashvili

Those who are touched by poetry that is filled with romantic spirit and revolutionary aspirations have celebrated the life and poetry of Georgian poet Nikoloz Baratashvili on the occasion of his 200th birthday in London.

The event - A Poet is Born: Nikoloz Baratashvili - was held on April 27, where culture and literature circles of the UK celebrated the 200th anniversary of the man who introduced "Europeanism” to Georgian literature.

 As the first month of spring slowly comes to an end … we remember Georgian poet Nikoloz Baratashvili (1817-1845) on the occasion of his 200th birth anniversary with a talk by Donald Rayfield, Emeritus Professor of Russian and Georgian at Queen Mary University of London,” this is how the event organisers promoted the event online.

Referred to as the "Georgian Byron,” Nikoloz Baratashvili left behind a handful of unpublished poems when he died of malaria in Ganja, Azerbaijan at the age of 27. As the next generation of Georgian literati rediscovered Baratashvili’s works he was idolised and posthumously published between 1861 and 1876.

Ambassador of Georgia to the UK Tamar Beruchashvili also attended the event and delivered an introductory speech.

This talk was followed by a drinks reception sponsored by the Embassy of Georgia, London.