Bugadze
2014 Longlist

The Literature Express

Translated from the original Georgian by Maya Kiasashvili
artwork-image

ABOUT
THE BOOK

This novel is about literature and writers – more precisely – unknown and mediocre authors travelling together. A literary association has invited authors of various nationalities to a seminar and the narrative follows their train jouney throughout Europe on the literature express, a train specially chartered for the seminar. The novel describes the self-absorption of the authors and their inability to communicate with one another. They are portrayed as inward-looking and largely disinterested in their fellow traveller’s work. The novel is therefore a reflection on literature and the unsuccessful author.

The main character of the story is a Georgian author. At the heart of the novel lies the love story between the Georgian author and his Polish translator’s wife. However, their romance is as unsuccessful as the central protagonist’s attempts at literary success. At the end of the fascinating voyage into Europe, we find out that all authors participating in the seminar are writing their new books on the literature express. Let’s see how the Georgian author will fare…

 

ABOUT
THE AUTHOR Lasha
Bugadze

Lasha Bugadze was born in Tbilisi in 1977. He has authored numerous novels and plays, performed in Georgia as well as in a number of European cities over the last ten years. Currently he is an author and presenter of different radio and TV programs about literature and music. He cooperates with the Royal Court Theatre of London and actively participates in international projects. Lasha received numerous literary awards and prizes: Literature Prize “Saba” (2004, 2006, 2010, 2012) and the first prize of the BBC International Radio Playwriting Competition 2012 for The Navigator is among them. His plays, short stories and novels are translated in different languages.

Lasha Bugadze was born in Tbilisi in 1977. He has authored numerous novels and plays, performed in Georgia as well as in a number of European cities over the last ten years. Currently he is an author and presenter of different radio and TV programs about literature and music. He cooperates with the Royal Court Theatre of London and actively participates in international projects. Lasha received numerous literary awards and prizes: Literature Prize “Saba” (2004, 2006, 2010, 2012) and the first prize of the BBC International Radio Playwriting Competition 2012 for The Navigator is among them. His plays, short stories and novels are translated in different languages.

ABOUT
THE TRANSLATOR Maya
Kiasashvili

Maya Kiasashvili holds a PhD in linguistics from Tbilisi State University; she taught English throughout her graduate education. Apart from teacher training and examining for Cambridge Speaking tests, she translates novels, plays, short stories, and screenplays from Georgian to English. One of her translations—Lasha Bugadze’s The Navigator—was the winner of the BBC Playwriting 2011 Competition in English as a First Language category. Her translations of novels by two modern Georgian writers—Bughadze’s The Literature Express and Tamaz Chiladze’s The Brueghel Moon—were published by Dalkey Archive Press in 2013 and 2014. She also completed her late father’s, Nico Kiasashvili’s, translation of James Joyce’s Ulysses, preparing it for publication in 2012.
Maya Kiasashvili holds a PhD in linguistics from Tbilisi State University; she taught English throughout her graduate education. Apart from teacher training and examining for Cambridge Speaking tests, she translates novels, plays, short stories, and screenplays from Georgian to English. One of her translations—Lasha Bugadze’s The Navigator—was the winner of the BBC Playwriting 2011 Competition in English as a First Language category. Her translations of novels by two modern Georgian writers—Bughadze’s The Literature Express and Tamaz Chiladze’s The Brueghel Moon—were published by Dalkey Archive Press in 2013 and 2014. She also completed her late father’s, Nico Kiasashvili’s, translation of James Joyce’s Ulysses, preparing it for publication in 2012.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Date published
30/06/2013
Country
Georgia
Original Language
Georgian
Author
Publisher
Bakur Sulakauri Publishing
Translator
Maya Kiasashvili
Translation
Translated from the original Georgian by Maya Kiasashvili

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