Empire of Feelings Presented in Georgia
The other day the presentation ceremony of the book ‒ collection of essays Empire of Feelings (by Afaq Masud) ‒ published in Georgian on the initiative and financial support of the Rustaveli Society of Georgia was held at the Georgia Writers Association.
The book published by the leading Georgian “Ecuador” Publishing House with rich traditions in Tbilisi includes the writer’s essays and short stories The Orange Spider, Execution, The Story of the Old Man, The Truth of the Dream, Home, On the Threshold of Genius, Wisdom of the Wind, The Army of Spirits.
The author of the translation into Georgian is David Shemokmedeli, the notable Georgian poet, President of the Rustaveli Society of Georgia, and the editor is professor Murman Tavdishvili, Doctor of Philological Sciences.
Making the opening speech, David Shemokmedeli, President of the Rustaveli Society of Georgia, noted the following: “First of all, it should be noted that the introduction of the creative heritage of the outstanding figure of modern Azerbaijani literature, the great Azerbaijani writer Afaq Masud, to the Georgian literary space is an important and great literary event for us. The book Empire of Feelings presented to your attention is the writer’s second book published in the Georgian language. This book of small essays can be called a kind of diary of soul and spirit, a divine juncture where the writer’s subconscious and consciousness come together. The first thing that attracts attention in the book is the writer’s different sense of understanding, the element of the flow of ideas free from traditional impulses of inspiration, any frames and clichés, and most importantly free from the fear of public censorship. These feelings and thoughts where reality and unreality, mysticism and rough everyday life, impressive moments and images of a different view of the world and life alternate open the door to completely new realities. Another advantage of the writer is the ability to remain extremely sober and modern even when the most sentimental topics, the most tender emotions, the most sensitive religious motives are touched upon. I think this laconic book entitled Empire of Feelings can be considered a kind of key and guide for entering the writer’s extremely rich inner world.”
Later, Giorgi Gogolashvili, the editor of the book, professor at Tbilisi State University, Makvala Gonashvili, the poet, Chairman of the Georgian Writers’ Union, Erekle Saghliani, the People’s Poet of Georgia, Badri Kutateladze, a poet, Co-Chairman of the Georgian Writers’ Union, Laureate of the State Prize, Tamar Makharadze, a well-known poet, Lali Mikadze, a prose writer, as well as cultural figures Enriko Janelidze, Marina Kokhidashvili, Sopo Abkhazava-Sharashenidze analyzed the works included in the book and read excerpts from some essays.
In the end, the author was awarded the Ilia Chavchavadze Prize and the Gold Medal of the Georgian Writers’ Union, the honourary title of Friend of Georgian Culture of the Rustaveli Society of Georgia, and Honoured Worker of Culture of Academy of Culture of Georgia.
