The writtenAbkhaz literature appeared relatively recently in the beginning of the 20th century although Abkhaz oral tradition is quite rich.[1]
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Abkhaz share with other Caucasian peoples theNart sagas — series of tales about mythical heroes, some of which can be considered ascreation myths and ancient theology. There also exist historical legends (for example aboutMarshania princes), brigands' and hunters' songs, satirical songs and songs about theCaucasian War and various ritual songs.
TheAbkhaz alphabet was created in the 19th century by Dimitry Gulia and K. Machavariani.[2] Prior to the1917 revolution in Russia, the only books published in Abkhaz were thealphabet book (Apswa anban), a few other textbooks, and a couple of books byDmitry Gulia. He published a collection of short poems (Tbilisi, 1912) and a poemLove letter (Tbilisi, 1913).
The first newspaper in Abkhaz, calledAbkhazia (Apsny) and edited byDmitry Gulia appeared in 1917. It was replaced by theApsny Kapsh (Аҧсны ҟаҧшь, meaningRed Abkhazia) newspaper after the Soviet rule was established in the country.[3]
A number of new works appeared in the next decades—including Dmitry Gulia's novelUnder the foreign skies (1919), about a peasant who took responsibility for his prince's crime and was exiled to Siberia, andKamachich, (1940) about the pre-revolution life in Abkhazia. Other writers wereSamson Chanba (Muhajirs and several other plays), Iua Kogonia (Abkhazian poems, 1924), and Mushni Khashba.
Bagrat Shinkuba was one of the greatest Abkhaz writers and poets. He published his first collections of poems in the 1930s and continued writing until his death in 2004. HisBallad of the rock tells about the fate of Abkhaz "Robin Hood" — Hajarat Kyakhba. His most known work (translated in English and Russian) is the novelThe Last of the Departed, dedicated to the tragic destiny ofUbykh nation which became extinct along a hundred of years.
Arguably the most famous Abkhaz writer,Fazil Iskander, wrote mostly in Russian. He was renowned in the former Soviet Union for the vivid descriptions of Caucasian life. He is probably best known in the English-speaking world forSandro of Chegem, a picturesque novel that recounts life in a fictional Abkhaz village from the early years of the 20th century until the 1970s. This rambling, amusing, and ironic work has been considered as an example ofmagic realism, although Iskander himself said he "did not care for Latin American magic realism in general".[1]
