Folio Archives 68: The Knight in Panther Skin by Shota Rustaveli 1977
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1wcarter
The Knight in Panther Skin by Shota Rustaveli 1977
Georgia, the country at the eastern end of the Black Sea (not the US state) has its heroes, as does any country, and one of them is the Knight in Panther Skin, an epic poem by the 12th. Century humanist Rustaveli. It is so venerated by Georgians, that most brides have a beautifully bound edition (Folio Society?) in their trousseau. This is a a free tanslation in prose by Katharine Vivian.
England had its Knights of the Round Table, Georgia has its Knight in Panther Skin. Rustaveli may have been a Georgian royal court poet under Queen Thamar, to whom he was lovingly devoted, when this was written.
The story is an epic romance that tells the friendship of two heroes, Avtandil and Tariel, (the Knight in panther Skin) and their quest to find the object of love, Nestan-Darejan, an allegorical embodiment of Queen Tamar. These idealized heroes and devoted friends are united by courtly love, generosity, sincerity, dedication, and proclaim equality between men and women, which is a recurring theme. There are stories of battles, journeys, love and loss interwoven in the main stream of the story, making it an always interesting and easy read.
The 207 page Folio edition is broken into 52 relatively brief chapters, and has map endpapers so that the journeys by the protagonists can be followed in the lands between the Black and Caspian Seas. It is letterpress printed and bound in maroon satin cloth blocked with a gilt design on the cover and spine. The top of the page block is coloured green and there are eight full colour illustrations copied from a 1646 Georgian manuscript. The textured fawn slipcase is 23x14.5cm and characteristic of the other Folio Society editions in the late 1970s.
All in all, a delightful edition of a story little known outside its remote home.
- 
Map endpapers
Colophon at back of book
An index of the other illustrated reviews in the "Folio Archives" series can be viewed here.
Georgia, the country at the eastern end of the Black Sea (not the US state) has its heroes, as does any country, and one of them is the Knight in Panther Skin, an epic poem by the 12th. Century humanist Rustaveli. It is so venerated by Georgians, that most brides have a beautifully bound edition (Folio Society?) in their trousseau. This is a a free tanslation in prose by Katharine Vivian.
England had its Knights of the Round Table, Georgia has its Knight in Panther Skin. Rustaveli may have been a Georgian royal court poet under Queen Thamar, to whom he was lovingly devoted, when this was written.
The story is an epic romance that tells the friendship of two heroes, Avtandil and Tariel, (the Knight in panther Skin) and their quest to find the object of love, Nestan-Darejan, an allegorical embodiment of Queen Tamar. These idealized heroes and devoted friends are united by courtly love, generosity, sincerity, dedication, and proclaim equality between men and women, which is a recurring theme. There are stories of battles, journeys, love and loss interwoven in the main stream of the story, making it an always interesting and easy read.
The 207 page Folio edition is broken into 52 relatively brief chapters, and has map endpapers so that the journeys by the protagonists can be followed in the lands between the Black and Caspian Seas. It is letterpress printed and bound in maroon satin cloth blocked with a gilt design on the cover and spine. The top of the page block is coloured green and there are eight full colour illustrations copied from a 1646 Georgian manuscript. The textured fawn slipcase is 23x14.5cm and characteristic of the other Folio Society editions in the late 1970s.
All in all, a delightful edition of a story little known outside its remote home.
- 
Map endpapers
Colophon at back of book
An index of the other illustrated reviews in the "Folio Archives" series can be viewed here.
2SimB
A lovely little book. I got my copy about 7 years ago when I visited "The Much Ado" bookshop in Alfriston in Sussex on my very occasional visits to the UK.
3gmacaree
I owned this briefly, but before I could read it a young writer I was mentoring saw it, and made such a fuss over the thing that I felt like I would be damaging him forever if I didn't turn it over. Been looking for an as-nice copy on the cheap since. Haven't found one.
4folio_books
>3 gmacaree:
A quick look on Abe revealed 13, the cheapest being a fine/fine at £8.75 from a UK seller. Good luck!
A quick look on Abe revealed 13, the cheapest being a fine/fine at £8.75 from a UK seller. Good luck!
5gmacaree
>4 folio_books: Thanks for the search. My (departed) one cost $2.50!
6dlphcoracl
This one is a lilttle gem.
The Knight in Panther Skin is the national epic of the Republic of Georgia and is known by most of their citizens. This is an especially nice FS publication with letterpress printing and a marvelous set of historical illustrations. The maroon satin binding with gilt/silver panther blocked onto the front cover is beautiful. Only problem with this book? Trying to find a copy without a sun-faded spine!!
If you consider yourself a serious FS collector and do not own this edition, you have a bit of work to do.
The Knight in Panther Skin is the national epic of the Republic of Georgia and is known by most of their citizens. This is an especially nice FS publication with letterpress printing and a marvelous set of historical illustrations. The maroon satin binding with gilt/silver panther blocked onto the front cover is beautiful. Only problem with this book? Trying to find a copy without a sun-faded spine!!
If you consider yourself a serious FS collector and do not own this edition, you have a bit of work to do.
9NLNils
I feel like The Compleat Angler would really fit in this series. *wink*
10wcarter
>9 NLNils:
I'll add it to the "to do" list.
I'll add it to the "to do" list.
11Niurn
>6 dlphcoracl: "Only problem with this book? Trying to find a copy without a sun-faded spine!!"
A "Fine" copy without any sun-fading costed me £17 a few months ago. I jumped on it !
A "Fine" copy without any sun-fading costed me £17 a few months ago. I jumped on it !
