“I have been working on this book since 1982. Not surprisingly, the social and political reality of the past thirty years has greatly affected its mood.

“You are about to open a book of tears and joy, written with the exceptional love of the Likhni dialect. It might inspire you to contemplate the dramatic fate of our people, experience their pain and hardship, as well as marvel at the resilience they have demonstrated so far.” (From Eter Tataraidze’s introduction.)