The Snake’s Skin
Encyclopedia
The Snake’s Skin (also referred as The Snake’s Slough) is a novel by prominent Georgian writer – Grigol Robakidze
written and published in Georgian and German languages.
According to Grigol Robakidze’s nephew, Rostom Lominashvili, “During the First World War, Grigol Robakidze was in Iran. It was there that The Snake’s Skin took shape” . Grigol Robakidze himself states that the idea for The Snake’s Skin was generated in Iran: “The idea of The Snake’s Skin came to me in the summer of 1917 in Hamadan…” . In 1926 the novel The Snake’s Skin was published for the first time in Georgian, the language in which it was originally written . In 1928 Grigol Robakidze translated it himself into German, and left for Germany thereafter for its German publication, which included an introduction by Stefan Zweig
a prominent Austrian writer of the time .
Prominent Georgian and German writers, literary critics and linguists highly appreciate not only literary part of the novel, but also its language phenomenon (Georgian as well as German) and called Grigol Robakidze a genius writer .
In 2005, Georgian author and researcher Tamar Injia
claimed to discover that Grigol Robakdize’s The Snake’s Skin was extensively plagiarized by Kurban Said
in his novel Ali and Nino: A Love Story
. Injia’s research findings were first published in a series of articles in the Georgian newspaper Our Literature (2003) and later printed as books Grigol Robakidze… Kurban Said – Literary Robbery (2005) in Georgian and Ali and Nino – Literary Robbery!
(2009) in English .
The findings of professor Injia were supported and shared by the representatives from various literary circles, scholars and researchers from Georgia and the US: Gia Papuashvili – documentary movie producer and philologist ; Levan Begadze – German linguist, Georgian literary critic and philologist ; Zaza Alexidze - former Director of the Georgian National Center of Manuscripts
, and discoverer and decipherer of the Caucasian Albanian written script; Betty Blair – researcher of authorship of Ali and Nino: A Love Story and founding editor of Azerbaijan International Magazine
.
There is only one tense in the The Snake’s Skin – present, but it includes past and future as well. The main thing is reality, but myths and legends are part of this reality. The way of thinking is not only particularly human, but at the same time metaphysical and idealistic.
The personages of the novel do not live in the particular time period, or represent persons with concrete nationality. The author describes generalized citizen of the world that gets transformed into a particular person or in other words, returns to his roots (actual father, motherland), oneself, and the God. This is an adventure of Archibald Mekeshi’s soul taking place throughout the centuries.
Grigol Robakidze
Grigol Robakidze was a Georgian writer, publicist, and public figure primarily known for his exotic prose and anti-Soviet émigré activities....
written and published in Georgian and German languages.
According to Grigol Robakidze’s nephew, Rostom Lominashvili, “During the First World War, Grigol Robakidze was in Iran. It was there that The Snake’s Skin took shape” . Grigol Robakidze himself states that the idea for The Snake’s Skin was generated in Iran: “The idea of The Snake’s Skin came to me in the summer of 1917 in Hamadan…” . In 1926 the novel The Snake’s Skin was published for the first time in Georgian, the language in which it was originally written . In 1928 Grigol Robakidze translated it himself into German, and left for Germany thereafter for its German publication, which included an introduction by Stefan Zweig
Stefan Zweig
Stefan Zweig was an Austrian novelist, playwright, journalist and biographer. At the height of his literary career, in the 1920s and 1930s, he was one of the most famous writers in the world.- Biography :...
a prominent Austrian writer of the time .
Prominent Georgian and German writers, literary critics and linguists highly appreciate not only literary part of the novel, but also its language phenomenon (Georgian as well as German) and called Grigol Robakidze a genius writer .
In 2005, Georgian author and researcher Tamar Injia
Tamar Injia
Tamar Injia is a Georgian author and researcher, who lives and works in Tbilisi, Georgia. In 1974, Tamar Injia completed her MA in Georgian Philology at Tbilisi State University, and in 1968, she obtained her PhD in the same field from the same University...
claimed to discover that Grigol Robakdize’s The Snake’s Skin was extensively plagiarized by Kurban Said
Kurban Said
Kurban Said .Kurban Said is the pseudonym for the author of Ali and Nino, a novel originally published in 1937 in the German language by the Austrian publisher, E.P. Tal...
in his novel Ali and Nino: A Love Story
Ali and Nino: A Love Story
.Ali and Nino: A Love Story is a charming love story published under the pseudonym Kurban Said. The novel now has been or reprints. The book was first published in Vienna in the German language in 1937, by E.P. Tal Verlag...
. Injia’s research findings were first published in a series of articles in the Georgian newspaper Our Literature (2003) and later printed as books Grigol Robakidze… Kurban Said – Literary Robbery (2005) in Georgian and Ali and Nino – Literary Robbery!
Ali and Nino – Literary Robbery!
Ali and Nino – Literary Robbery! is a book of literary criticism written by author, researcher and professor of Georgian language and literature - Tamar Injia...
(2009) in English .
The findings of professor Injia were supported and shared by the representatives from various literary circles, scholars and researchers from Georgia and the US: Gia Papuashvili – documentary movie producer and philologist ; Levan Begadze – German linguist, Georgian literary critic and philologist ; Zaza Alexidze - former Director of the Georgian National Center of Manuscripts
Georgian National Center of Manuscripts
The Georgian National Center of Manuscripts is a research and educational institution dedicated to studying old manuscripts and historical documents. The Center is based in Tbilisi . Was founded as Institute of Manuscripts on June 30, 1958...
, and discoverer and decipherer of the Caucasian Albanian written script; Betty Blair – researcher of authorship of Ali and Nino: A Love Story and founding editor of Azerbaijan International Magazine
Azerbaijan International
Azerbaijan International is an independent magazine committed to the discussion of issues related to Azerbaijanis around the world. It was established in 1993 shortly after the dissolution of the Soviet Union when Azerbaijan gained its independence. Since then, it has been published quarterly in...
.
Plot Summary
The novel The Snake’s Skin is about entire universe, where the space is complete and united. The scene takes place at the entire planet: the West and the East; Russia, Europe and finally Robakidze’s motherland – Georgia. Here one may also find an imaginary world of American billionaire living in his villa at Mediterranean Sea along with various prominent artists.There is only one tense in the The Snake’s Skin – present, but it includes past and future as well. The main thing is reality, but myths and legends are part of this reality. The way of thinking is not only particularly human, but at the same time metaphysical and idealistic.
The personages of the novel do not live in the particular time period, or represent persons with concrete nationality. The author describes generalized citizen of the world that gets transformed into a particular person or in other words, returns to his roots (actual father, motherland), oneself, and the God. This is an adventure of Archibald Mekeshi’s soul taking place throughout the centuries.