There are a surprising number of books about or based in Georgia, printed in English and other languages: some for hikers, some for history-lovers, some for aspiring politicians, some for those who love to experiment in the kitchen and some, pure fiction and just for fun.
Each will, in its own unique way, give you an insight into what makes Georgia so magical, so well-positioned between ‘East’ and ‘West,’ so welcoming to guests, so proud of its heritage and so cautious in its relations with Russia
Being bookworms ourselves, below you’ll find something for each of the above catagory. These can be found in English in Prospero’s Bookstore in Tbilisi, or ordered online via Mta Publications or amazon. Other such books can be found in other bookstores in the main towns/cities around the country, though often in limited supply.
DARK WINGS: ANGEL
By K. R. Davies
(Young Adult Urban Fantasy)
The blurb: I'm 16. I live in Georgia. My mum dumped us when I was a kid. Me and my brother are being brought up by an absentee father, a driver-cum-bodyguard and a cook obsessed with borscht. Oh, and I have a Guardian Angel who only I can see. Just a normal life? Yeah. Until a family of demons comes to town...
Dacre Stoker, Author, Great Grand-nephew of Bram Stoker says, "An intriguing take on the urban fantasy genre, not least for its being set setting in a little-known country in the South Caucasus. A teenage girl with a guardian angel finds herself caught in the spotlight of a demonic drama. The author is good at drawing the reader in and keeping them balanced on a knife’s edge until the end."
WALKING IN THE CAUCASUS, GEORGIA
By Peter Nasmyth
(Walking trail guidebook)
The blurb: Georgia is probably the finest walker’s destination in Europe – and ranks in the world’s top twelve for landscape diversity (extraordinary for a nation the size of Ireland). It possesses several peaks higher than Mont Blanc, and more endemic species of animal and flower than any western European country. Yet it receives very few visitors.
Peter Nasmyth, who lives partly in Tbilisi, partly in London and has written several books on the region, has received so many inquiries as to whether Georgia is ‘safe,’ he’s finally written his response – as the first ever walking guide. In this the new, improved second edition of his highly personal guide he presents 53 routes with maps, GPS coordinates, 125 colour photos, and sections on birds, flora and fauna
PRINCE HERACLIUS IN THE BRITISH & IRISH PRESS
By Giorgi Kalandia (Art Palace)
(Bilingual presentation of historical newspaper articles and reports from the 18th century)
The blurb: In this book, readers interested in the past of Georgia are sure to discover a plethora of fun, intriguing and at times astonishing stories about Prince Heraclius (1720-1798) and his homeland. The vast majority of articles, reports and maps presented here were acquired in the National Library of Ireland, most having appeared in the British press or scientific reports in the 18th century.
THE EXPERIMENT: GEORGIA'S FORGOTTEN REVOLUTION 1918-21
By Eric Lee
(Political discussion)
The blurb: For many, the Russian revolution of 1917 was a symbol of hope and offered proof that another way of envisioning the world was indeed possible. But Soviet authoritarianism and the horrors of the gulags have since led to the revolution becoming synonymous with oppression, forever tainting socialism in the eyes of its critics. However, the often over-looked experience of Georgia, which declared its independence from Russia in 1918, shows there was another way. In The Experiment, historian Eric Lee brings this little-known story of Georgia’s experiment in democratic socialism to light, detailing the turbulent events of this chapter in revolutionary history.
Along the way, Lee introduces us to a remarkable set of ideas and policies, among them the men and women who strove for a vision of socialism that featured universal suffrage, a people’s militia in place of a standing army, and a civil society grounded in trade unions and cooperatives. Though the Georgian Democratic Republic lasted for just three years before it was brutally crushed on the orders of Stalin, in that short time it was able to offer a glimpse of a more humane alternative to the Communist nightmare that was to come.
The Experiment is the first authoritative English-language history of this forgotten episode, and it will appeal to those interested in Soviet history as well as those seeking inspiration for a democratic socialist alternative today.
TWENTY-FIVE YEARS IN THE CAUCASUS
By Arnold Zisserman
(Memoirs)
The blurb: Twenty-Five Years in the Caucasus, 1842-67, issued in 2018, is the first and only translation of Arnold Zisserman's uniquely perceptive and rewarding Russian text, enhanced by an introduction, maps, numerous period illustrations, appendixes and notes, ensuring that the reader can fully appreciate the far-ranging author's travels, adventures, achievements and insights.
At age 17 Arnold Zisserman left Russia for Georgia, and embarked on a career of unrivaled interest and achievement. From a humble clerkship in a government department, he rose rapidly, becoming assistant administrator of a Georgian province, police chief of a war-torn region of Dagestan, confidant of the Viceroy and finally a field officer in the army fighting the Muslim rebels. His memoirs form a rich and unique historical, cultural and ethnographic account of an exotic region during an exciting period.
SUPRA: A FEAST OF GEORGIAN COOKING
By Tiko Tuskadze
(Cookery book and Memoirs)
The blurb: Bordered by Russia, Turkey, Azerbaijan and Armenia, and situated at a crossroads on an ancient East-West trading route, Georgia’s rich and diverse history is nowhere more evident than through its cuisine and legendary hospitality. Central and unique to the culinary tradition of Georgia is the "supra," a coming together of family and friends to share heart-warming toasts, great conversation, free-flowing drink and, most importantly, dish upon dish of mouth-watering food. In this, her first book, Tiko Tuskadze shares over 100 of the dishes that come together to make Georgian cuisine a true celebration of its country's unique climate, history, and culture. Recipes follow the authentic procession of dishes, starting with pâtés and sauces then salads, which are traditionally laid out on the table before guests arrive; moving on to sections on soups, bread and cheese, meat dishes, poultry dishes, fish dishes, vegetable dishes, and ending with a few fruity treats. The recipes range from the iconic Khachapuri (cheese bread), Kebabi (lamb kebabs) and Khinkali (dumplings), to lesser-known classics, such as Ajapsandali (aubergine stew) and Ckmeruli (poussin in garlic and walnut sauce). This book is the ultimate resource for anyone interested in discovering this unique and varied cuisine with the dual values of family and celebration firmly at its heart. Includes dual measures.