‘The Iberians’ _ An Unknown Novel by Arthur Suttner

Abstract

A famous Austrian writer Arthur Gundaccar von Suttner lived in Georgia with his wife, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Bertha von Suttner for nine years (1876-1885) and occupied a significant place in the history of Georgian culture. The impressions of the writer that are connected with the life in our country were so deeply imprinted in his consciousness that the Georgian theme became the main direction of his creative work. In the present paper, A. Suttner's unknown and hitherto unpublished novel ‘The Iberians’ in its original language is analysed. At my request, Prof. Tamaz Gvenetadze found the manuscript of the novel in the National Library of Vienna (Austria), translated it into Georgian and published as a separate book. The novel reflects the situation created in Georgia after its conquest by Russia with historical truth and in most cases clearly expressed pro-Georgian point of view.