Robakidze Grigol

Robakidze Grigol (1880-1962), Writer and public figure, born in Sviri village of Georgia. After the graduation from Theological Seminary in 1901, he continued his studies at the Faculty of Law of Yuriev University in Tartu (Estonia). In 1902-1907 he studied at the Faculty of Philosophy of Leipzig University in Germany. Till 1932, G. Robakidze lived in Georgia; he wrote stories, novels and poems and was engaged in public activities. In 1932, he left for Germany on a creative assignment, whereupon, as of 1934, he found himself in a compulsory immigration. He lived in Germany till 1945. G. Robakidze, being the author of significant literary works prior to his immigration (plays: Londa, Maelstrom, Lamara, Literary Portraits Of Georgian Writers, etc.) contributed to the German literature as well. It is believed that he enriched German literature thanks to the novels written in the German language: Megi, The Georgian Girl (Tubingen, 1932); The Killed Soul (Jena, 1933); The Call Of The Goddess (Jena, 1934); The Guards of Grail (Jena, 1937), etc. The Snakeskin, the novel written by G. Robakidze in Tbilisi and printed there in 1926, was published in 1928 in Berlin with the introduction by Stefan Zweig. G. Robakidze has written brilliant literary portraits of such political figures as J. Stalin, B. Mussolini, A. Hitler and others. His play Lamara was staged at Rustaveli Theater by A. Akhmeteli (1930). The drama contributed to the success of Georgian Theater in Moscow in 1930 and in 1933. From 1945 till his death, G. Robakidze lived in Switzerland. During the Soviet time G. Robakidze’s books were banned.

Grigol Robakidze died in Geneva, Switzerland. He is buried at the Lueville Cemetery of Georgian immigrants in France.