Abstract:
Varlam Cherkezishvili, an outstanding Georgian politician and
journalist, made a significant contribution in the popularization of
the world history in Georgia. In his epistolary heritage, he reveals a
thorough knowledge of the key issues of the recent history of Western
Europe. He is well aware of the life and works of the famous public
figures of the given epoch. The paper focuses on an interesting
aspect of Varlam Cherkezishvili’s works, without which the analysis
of his journalistic activities would be incomplete.
Varlam Cherkezishvili was especially knowledgeable in the history
of Western European countries, especially the history of England
of the XIX-XX centuries. This is not surprising, because he lived in
England and witnessed the events discussed in his publicist works.
This aspect of Varlam Cherkezishvili’s heritage is yet unknown to the
Georgian society. Therefore, it is important to cover the issue, because
this will enable fill the gap in the Georgian historiography.
The paper focuses on Varlam Cherkezishvili’s attitude to the war
between England and the Boor Republic (1899-1902). The research is
topical and interesting, because the issue of English-Boor war was
very acute in the given epoch. Although Varlam Cherkezishvili has
not written a special paper dedicated to this war, he expressed his
opinions regarding the issue in various works. His position is both
interesting and transparent. In his publicist letters, published in the Georgian periodicals, he provides interesting information about the
English-Boor war. This material has formed the main source of our
research.
On the boundary of the XIX-XX centuries, none of the issues was
as topical for the international relations as the English-Boor war.
Therefore, it is not surprising that Varlam Cherkezishvili was interested
in the issue. In general, the above-mentioned war was widely
discussed in Georgia, because the national liberation movement had
always aroused the interest of the Georgian society. Varlam Cherkezishvili’s
opinion regarding the English-Boor war is one of the
components of this interest. He addressed the Georgian society from
England.
Varlam Cherkezishvili’s correct evaluation of the English-Boor
war and his knowledgeability regarding the issue is a logical result
of his awareness of the empirical-factual material. The chief merit of
Varlam Cherkezishvili’s argumentation regarding the war is that he
fully sympathizes with the Boors. Varlam Cherkezishvili condemns
the cruel acts committed by the English in the Boor Republic. He
severely criticizes the English colonists for the annihilation of the
peaceful population. Such attitude is correct and it should be considered
a great merit of his journalistic activities.
Varlam Cherkezishvili underlines the fact that, unlike the English
government, the English society supported the Boors’ aspiration to
freedom. This forms one of the positive aspects of Varlam Cherkezishvili’s
argumentation regarding the issue of the English-Boor
war.
