Konstantine Gamsakhurdia (May 3, 1893 - July 17, 1975) was a classic of Georgian literature of the 20th century and famous public benefactor, Academician of the Georgian Academy of Sciences (GAS), Ph.D. of the Berlin University, Laureate of the Shota Rustaveli State Prize of Georgia.

Life and works

Konstantine Gamsakhurdia was born in 1893, in Abasha (Mingrelia (Samegrelo) region of Western Georgia). His father was Prince Svimon Gamsakhurdia. In 1911 he graduated from the Georgian Gymnasium of Kutaisi (Western Georgia) and in 1918 from the Berlin University (Germany).

In 1918 he was member of the Board of the Constituent Society of the Tbilisi State University (TSU) and in 1920-1924 Associate Professor of German literature at this University.

In 1918-1919 Gamsakhurdia was the 1st Secretary of the Embassy of the Democratic Republic of Georgia (DRG) in Germany, in 1920 - Plenipotentiary Envoy of DRG in Italy.

In 1912-1919 about 30 papers of Gamsakhurdia were published in the German Press. Gamsakhurdia published two books in German language: "The Caucasus and the World War" (Weimar, 1916) and "The Oriental Politics of England and Russia" (Berlin, 1917).

Gamsakhurdia was also one of leaders of the national-liberation movement of Georgia 1921-1930's. In 1924-1925 and 1926-1928 he was jailed by GPU.

Konstantine Gamsakhurdia was author of outstanding Georgian novels ("The hand of the great master", "Kidnapping of the moon", the tetralogy "David the Builder", etc.), founder of the Georgian scientific school of study of life and works of Goethe.

He was father of the first President of the Republic of Georgia, Dr. Zviad Gamsakhurdia.