Fazil Iskander
Encyclopedia
Fazil Abdulovich Iskander ' onMouseout='HidePop("67061")' href="/topics/Sukhumi">Sukhumi
, USSR) is arguably the most famous Abkhaz
writer, renowned in the former Soviet Union
for his vivid descriptions of Caucasian
life, mostly written in Russian
. He has written various stories, most famously "Zashita Chika", which star a crafty and likable young boy named "Chik".
, he distanced himself from the Abkhaz secessionist strivings in the late 1980s and criticised both Georgian
and Abkhaz
communities of Abkhazia
for their ethnic prejudices. He warned that Abkhazia could become a new Nagorno-Karabakh
.
He is probably best known in the English speaking world for Sandro of Chegem, a picaresque novel that recounts life in a fictional Abkhaz village from the early years of the 20th century until the 1970s, which evoked praise for the author as "an Abkhazian Mark Twain." Mr. Iskander's humor, like Mark Twain's, has a tendency to sneak up on you instead of hitting you over the head. This rambling, amusing and ironic work has been considered as an example of magic realism
, although Iskander himself said he "did not care for Latin American magic realism in general".
A section of the novel dealing with Sandro's encounter with Joseph Stalin
was made into the Russian film Baltazar's Feasts, or a Night with Stalin in 1989.
Iskander currently resides in Moscow
. He is a writer for the newspaper Kultura
.
On 3 September 2011, a statue of Iskander's literary character Chik was unveiled on Sukhumi
's Muhajir Quay.
In 2009, Bank of Abkhazia issued a commemorative silver coin from the series "Outstanding Personalities of Abkhazia", dedicated to Fazil Iskander denomination of 10 apsaras.
Sukhumi
Sukhumi is the capital of Abkhazia, a disputed region on the Black Sea coast. The city suffered heavily during the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict in the early 1990s.-Naming:...
, USSR) is arguably the most famous Abkhaz
Abkhaz
Abkhaz and Abkhazian may refer to:* Something of, from, or related to Abkhazia, a de facto independent region with partial recognition as a sovereign state, otherwise recognized as part of Georgia...
writer, renowned in the former Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
for his vivid descriptions of Caucasian
Caucasus
The Caucasus, also Caucas or Caucasia , is a geopolitical region at the border of Europe and Asia, and situated between the Black and the Caspian sea...
life, mostly written in Russian
Russian language
Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
. He has written various stories, most famously "Zashita Chika", which star a crafty and likable young boy named "Chik".
Biography
The most famous intellectual of AbkhaziaAbkhazia
Abkhazia is a disputed political entity on the eastern coast of the Black Sea and the south-western flank of the Caucasus.Abkhazia considers itself an independent state, called the Republic of Abkhazia or Apsny...
, he distanced himself from the Abkhaz secessionist strivings in the late 1980s and criticised both Georgian
Georgian people
The Georgians are an ethnic group that have originated in Georgia, where they constitute a majority of the population. Large Georgian communities are also present throughout Russia, European Union, United States, and South America....
and Abkhaz
Abkhaz people
The Abkhaz or Abkhazians are a Caucasian ethnic group, mainly living in Abkhazia, a disputed region on the Black Sea coast. A large Abkhazian diaspora population resides in Turkey, the origins of which lie in the emigration from the Caucasus in the late 19th century known as Muhajirism...
communities of Abkhazia
Abkhazia
Abkhazia is a disputed political entity on the eastern coast of the Black Sea and the south-western flank of the Caucasus.Abkhazia considers itself an independent state, called the Republic of Abkhazia or Apsny...
for their ethnic prejudices. He warned that Abkhazia could become a new Nagorno-Karabakh
Nagorno-Karabakh
Nagorno-Karabakh is a landlocked region in the South Caucasus, lying between Lower Karabakh and Zangezur and covering the southeastern range of the Lesser Caucasus mountains...
.
He is probably best known in the English speaking world for Sandro of Chegem, a picaresque novel that recounts life in a fictional Abkhaz village from the early years of the 20th century until the 1970s, which evoked praise for the author as "an Abkhazian Mark Twain." Mr. Iskander's humor, like Mark Twain's, has a tendency to sneak up on you instead of hitting you over the head. This rambling, amusing and ironic work has been considered as an example of magic realism
Magic realism
Magic realism or magical realism is an aesthetic style or genre of fiction in which magical elements blend with the real world. The story explains these magical elements as real occurrences, presented in a straightforward manner that places the "real" and the "fantastic" in the same stream of...
, although Iskander himself said he "did not care for Latin American magic realism in general".
A section of the novel dealing with Sandro's encounter with Joseph Stalin
Joseph Stalin
Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin was the Premier of the Soviet Union from 6 May 1941 to 5 March 1953. He was among the Bolshevik revolutionaries who brought about the October Revolution and had held the position of first General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union's Central Committee...
was made into the Russian film Baltazar's Feasts, or a Night with Stalin in 1989.
Iskander currently resides in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
. He is a writer for the newspaper Kultura
Kultura (newspaper)
Kultura , known as Sovetskaya Kultura during the Soviet times, is a Russian newspaper, based in Moscow. The newspaper was previously published twice weekly but is currently a weekly newspaper...
.
On 3 September 2011, a statue of Iskander's literary character Chik was unveiled on Sukhumi
Sukhumi
Sukhumi is the capital of Abkhazia, a disputed region on the Black Sea coast. The city suffered heavily during the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict in the early 1990s.-Naming:...
's Muhajir Quay.
List of awards and prizes
- USSR State PrizeUSSR State PrizeThe USSR State Prize was the Soviet Union's state honour. It was established on September 9, 1966. After the breakup of the Soviet Union, the prize was followed up by the State Prize of the Russian Federation....
(1989) - for his novel "Sandro of Chegem" - Alfred Toepfer foundation'sAlfred Toepfer Stiftung F.V.S.The Alfred Toepfer Stiftung F.V.S. is a German foundation established in 1931 by the Hamburg merchant Alfred Toepfer. The foundation is committed to promoting European unification and ensuring cultural diversity and understanding between the countries of Europe.- History :The rich industrialist...
Pushkin PrizePushkin PrizeThe Pushkin Prize was established in 1881 by the Russian Academy of Sciences to honor one of the greatest Russian poets Alexander Pushkin . The prize was awarded to the Russian who achieved the highest standard of literary excellence. The prize was discontinued during the Soviet period. It was...
(1992) - State Prize of the Russian FederationState Prize of the Russian FederationState Prize of the Russian Federation is a state honorary prize established in 1992 as the substitute for the USSR State Prize. In 2004 the rules for selection of laureates and the status of the award was significantly changed making them closer to such awards as Nobel Prize or the Soviet Lenin...
in Literature and Arts (1993) - Triumph Prize (1999).
- Order of Honour and Glory, 1st class (Abkhazia, 18 June 2002)
- Order of Merit for the FatherlandOrder of Merit for the FatherlandThe Order of Merit for the Fatherland was instituted on 2 March 1994 by Presidential Decree. The statutes describe it as a decoration for merit, not an order of knights....
;- 2nd class (29 September 2004)
- 3rd class (3 March 1999)
- 4th class (13 March 2009, presented on February 17, 2010.)
- Honorary Member of Russian Academy of Arts
In 2009, Bank of Abkhazia issued a commemorative silver coin from the series "Outstanding Personalities of Abkhazia", dedicated to Fazil Iskander denomination of 10 apsaras.
Works in English translation
- Forbidden Fruit and Other Stories, Central Books LTD, 1972.
- The Goatibex Constellation, Ardis, 1975.
- Sandro of Chegem, Vintage Books, 1983.
- The Gospel According to Chegem, Vintage Books, 1984.
- Chik and His Friends, Ardis 1985.
- Rabbits and Boa Constrictors, Ardis, 1989.
- The Old House Under the Cypress Tree, Faber and Faber, 1996.
- The Thirteenth Labour of Hercules, Raduga, 1997.