Aka Morchiladze is making waves in Georgia’s literary field with his recently acclaimed nomination for a Nobel Prize in Literature, though he is typically modest about the fact. Those wanting to catch a glimpse of Georgia’s quiet literary star can do so at one of his two upcoming appearances in London, where he will talk about his recent English book ‘Character in Georgia,’ among other topics.
Morchiladze was named a candidate for the 2024 Nobel Prize last month, the results of which will be announced mid-October. The writer, who seldom makes public appearances, has agreed to do two presentations in the United Kingdom, one of which is in London on March 20. The interviewer and organizer of the event is Peter Nasmyth, a board member of the British Georgian Society in London and the co-author of ‘Character in Georgia.’
Morchiladze was born in Tbilisi in 1966. He is considered one of Georgia’s best contemporary writers and has lived in London for many years, where he continues to write about his homeland. He has won various awards and many of his books have been adapted for the screen.
Indeed, he has written over 20 novels, and aside from being an author, he also holds the title of historian and hosts a Georgian television show that highlights the country’s cultural heritage. The main topic of the March 20 event is Morchiladze’s recent book, and it will be held in one of London’s greatest literary venues, where both Charles Dickens and Charles Darwin were members – the Athenaeum Club.
The club was founded in 1824 and holds around 2,000 members, who come from a range of backgrounds, including literature and arts, law, science, and technology. The venue seeks to be a space for individuals to share ideas, conduct research, listen to talks, and to serve as a communal spot. Since the space is full of walls adorned with books and elegant chambers, it was decided as the ideal place for Morchiladze’s talk.
When GEORGIA TODAY attempted to reach out to Morchiladze for a comment regarding his recent Nobel nomination, Nasmyth wrote on his behalf.
“I think I know what he will say – as he wrote to me the other day that he ‘questions his deservedness’ for the prize, which is typically self-effacing and modest of him. Most of us believe that he is Georgia’s best chance at the moment.”
Educator Tamuna Khasia has been working at 51st Public School in Tbilisi for the last 15 years, where she teaches Georgian literature. When she was a student at the Ivane Javakhishvili University, she studied Eastern World Culture and History and was lucky enough to have Morchiladze as one of her lecturers. At that time, she knew him by his actual name: Giorgi Akhvlediani.
Khasia said that while she was a student, he wasn’t a writer yet, as it was only in the 1990s and 2000s that he started publishing his work. However, every time she read one of his pieces, she tells us, she got the impression that she was directly listening to his voice. She explained that it is clear how knowledgeable he is, because he has such a gift for intertwining Georgian history and literature.
According to Khasia, Morchiladze being nominated for a Nobel Prize gives great recognition to Georgia. Khasia says that even if he does not win, ‘May God let him get it’, the world will still be drawn to and know more about the nation of Georgia.
“We are a very small country, and every kind of success in any kind of competition, even those that may not be important for big countries, is good for our beliefs and self-confidence – that this small nation represents something,” said Khasia. “You can always see [Morchiladze’s] heart through his texts, the problems in Georgia are like wounds to him.”
During soviet times, when communism dominated the region and people were restricted in what they could do, literature was still being written and creative methods were still practiced. Khasia tells us that if people can create and make things during a time like that, then “imagine what Georgian people can do in a free world.”
“There will be generations upon generations who will create writings, and thanks to the country gaining recognition, it will be easier and more accessible to write pieces in the future,” she says.
Those who attend the event in London on March 20 must adhere to the Athenaeum Club’s smart dress code of no trainers, denim, or sports clothing, and males are asked to wear ties. The talk will be held in the Smoking Room and will start at 7pm. It will last around 2.5 hours, followed by a wine reception. The cost of one ticket is 17 GBP.
By Shelbi R. Ankiewicz
