Fish Letters and other stories

This collection brings together five masterful short stories that capture Goderdzi Chokheli's genius as a chronicler of his time. Set in the wild mountain villages in 20th-century Georgia, these charming, heartbreaking stories explore the full territory of human experience. Chokheli's storytelling method is perhaps best shown in 'Cipollino', where an ethnographic account of villagers' age-old customs leads into a hilarious tale which ends on a poignant note. 'Fish Letters' is the story of a man who withdraws from life to go be a fish in the river; in Chokheli's poetics, what at first appears absurd develops into heartrending tragedy. In one of his most comic pieces, 'The Communal Crow', villagers compete for ownership of a crow under the arbitration of the local Communist Party official. What unfolds is a comedy of manners, as a rather simple yet absurd problem stumps the Soviet judicial system. These stories demonstrate Chokheli's mastery of the short story form. Translated into English for the first time Chokheli's literary contribution is now ready for the English-speaking world.