Alexander Kazbegi Georgian writer Date of Birth: 20.01.1848 Country: Georgia

Biography of Alexander Kazbegi

Alexander Kazbegi, a Georgian writer, was born on January 8 (20), 1848, in the village of Stepancminda (now Kazbegi, Georgia), into a noble family. His father was a prince and ruler of the Gorsk district. After his father's death, Kazbegi inherited a vast estate. He freed peasants from taxes but soon decided to give up his position as a feudal lord and retreated to the mountains. For seven years, he lived as a shepherd, experiencing a life of deprivation and gaining a deep understanding of the customs and laws of the community.

In 1879, Kazbegi settled in Tbilisi and joined the newspaper "Droeba" as a contributor. In 1881, his novel "Elgudzha" was published in the newspaper, portraying the dramatic images of courageous mountain peasants fighting for their honor and freedom. The novel was a great success, although the separate edition of "Elgudzha" was confiscated and burned by the police. Following the novel, Kazbegi published several short stories, including "Eliso" (1882), "Patricide" (1882), "Ciko" (1883), "The Outcast" (1884), "Khevisberi Gocha" (1884), "The Shepherd" (1885), and others. All of Kazbegi's works were written between 1880 and 1886.

Kazbegi exposed the injustices of tsarist officials and feudal lords, creating images of noble and courageous peasants. However, the hardships and persecutions took a toll on Kazbegi's mental health. He passed away on December 10 (22), 1893, in Tbilisi, alone and impoverished. Kazbegi's love for his homeland was inseparable from his ideals of justice, humanity, and readiness to fight against evil forces. Despite the fact that most of Kazbegi's characters perish in unequal struggles, his works are filled with a belief in the inexhaustible strength of the people.

Additionally, Kazbegi was known as a translator. He translated Alexander Griboedov's "Woe from Wit," William Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet," poems by Mikhail Lermontov, and other works into Georgian.