Jemal Karchkhadze

Jemal Karchkhadze (Georgian: ჯემალ ქარჩხაძე; 1936–1998) was a Georgian writer. He is the author of six novels, some short stories and essays. His works are conceptual and gained popularity after his death. His novel Antonio and David (ანტონიო და დავითი, 1987) was published in Swedish in 2013 and in Arabic in 2014.

Jemal Karchkhadze was born in 1936 in the village of Ukhuti in Vani in western Georgia. He graduated in 1960 with a degree in Georgian language and literature at Tbilisi State University. His short story Igi (იგი) was published in 1977. This was followed by his most important novels The Caravan (ქარავანი, 1984), Antonio and David (ანტონიო და დავითი, 1987) and Zebulon (ზებულონი, 1988). He died in 1998 in Tbilisi.

Jemal Karchkhadze was granted three literary awards: 1999 – Georgian State Award for Dimension (განზომილება) and for his Contribution to the National Literature; 2007 – Award “Gala” for Complete Short Stories; 2007 – Award Librarian’s Choice for a novel Antonio and David (ანტონიო და დავითი).