Georgia and the Caucasus in European Literary Sources

Abstract

    XVII- XIX European authors often talk to us about Georgia and the Caucasus in their writings.

     The work of the famous French traveler Jean Chardin “Travels of Sir Jean Chardin into Persia and the East Indies” contains important information about Georgia and the Caucasus of the XVII century. In the writing, he talks to us about the culture, history, socio-political situation of Georgia, geographical location.  Chardin focuses on the tolerant nature of Georgia.

  In the book “Adventures in the Caucasus” by Alexandre Dumas, it deals not only with historical and geographic, but also economic issues of each corner of the Caucasus. Dumas pays special attention to the appearance and personality qualities of Caucasian women. A large part of the book is devoted to the topic about Georgia.

   “Kingdom of Georgia” by Oliver Wardrop contains interesting information about Georgia and the Caucasus. From 1919 to 1921 he was the Plenipotentiary Representative of England in Georgia. His assessments are still relevant today: “At the present time a few Russian capitalists are endeavouring to get a footing beyond the Caucasus, but they experience some difficulty in doing so, for the Georgians prefer to avail themselves of the services of European investors” (Wardrop).

   The five-act tragedy­­ by A. Gryphius “Ketevan (Catherine) of Georgia, that is Unbroken Strength” reflects one episode of ­­­­centuries-old struggle of Georgia against Iran.  The tragedy clearly shows the political situation in the Caucasus and the Middle East. It is important that in his tragedy Gryphius created a perfect image of the Georgian Queen devoted to the countryand faith­­­. Griffius published the tragedy in 1657.

   The topic of Georgia and the Caucasus is typical for European literary and public thinking.