Georgia: In the Mountains of Poetry

Description

This book is the first comprehensive cultural and historical introduction to modern Georgia. It covers the country region by region, taking the form of a literary journey through the transition from Soviet Georgia to the modern independent nation state. Peter Nasmyth traveled extensively in Georgia over a period of 5 years, and his lively and topical survey charts the nation's remarkable cultural and historical journey to statehood. This authoritative, lively and perceptive book is based on hundreds of interviews with modern Georgians, from country priests to black marketeers. Georgia: Mountains and Honour will be essential reading for anyone interested in this fascinating region, as well as those requiring an insight into the life after the collapse of the old Soviet order in the richest and most dramatic of the former republics. Front Matter....Pages i-xiv Front Matter....Pages 1-1 Why Georgia?....Pages 3-9 Before the Caucasus....Pages 10-18 The mountains of poetry....Pages 19-32 Kazbegi....Pages 33-38 The mountain....Pages 39-44 Kazbegi to Tbilisi....Pages 45-54 Tbilisi....Pages 55-112 Mtskheta....Pages 113-121 Gori....Pages 122-130 Vardzia....Pages 131-135 Kakheti....Pages 136-146 Svaneti....Pages 147-170 Sukhumi....Pages 171-186 Front Matter....Pages 187-187 The eve of independence....Pages 189-195 The young shoots of war....Pages 196-204 Batumi....Pages 205-222 Khevsureti....Pages 223-243 Georgia’s war: a return to Sukhumi....Pages 244-261 A religious revival....Pages 262-274 Kutaisi....Pages 275-284 Front Matter....Pages 187-187 New Georgia....Pages 285-296 Back Matter....Pages 297-306