Mariam Garikhuli

1883-1960 / writer, actress

Mariam passionately read both Georgian and Russian literature from an early age and became a civic activist in her youth. Mariam's search for herself in society brought her to the Georgian theatre. She regularly performed in Tbilisi and Kutaisi. After leaving the theatre, she chose the literary pseudonym Gariquli ("ostracized").

With guidance and encouragement from Lado Meskhishvili, she began a literary career. She rewrote works by Ilia Chavchavadze and Akaki Tsereteli as plays and wrote her own sketches and short stories.

In 1912 her short story "In the Basement" was published in Sakartvelos Moambe. Afterwards she actively pursued her literary career. Her most outstanding work of the 1930s was the novel "Reflection". For years she also worked with children's publications and published the memoir "The Path Travelled", which not only depicts her own life but also includes several interesting literary portraits.