Italy hosts conference on 'Ali and Nino: Literature, history, Caucasus culture and Azerbaijan'

A conference titled “Ali and Nino: Literature, history, Caucasus culture, and Azerbaijan” organized by the Azerbaijani Studies Centre acting at the University Ca' Foscari has been held in Venice, Italy.

The event was supported by the Azerbaijani Embassy in Italy.

Representative of the Azerbaijani Embassy Nasir Mammadov stressed the importance of the event, adding that such meetings will contribute to further boosting relations between the two countries.

Professor of Baku Slavic University delivered a report titled “Ali and Nino in Eastern and Western context” and informed the participants about the roman.

Associate Professor of Asian Studies at Ca' Foscari University Giampiero Bellingeri provided an insight into Azerbaijan, as well as developing relations between both countries.

Scientist of Ca' Foscari University Ianiro Erica highlighted relations among cities of Azerbaijani and Venice.

The event saw the presentation of edition of writer Gurban Said`s roman “Ali and Nino” which was published in Italian language.

Ali and Nino is a novel about a romance between a Muslim Azerbaijani boy and Christian Georgian girl in Baku in the years 1918-1920. It explores the dilemmas created by “European” rule over an "Oriental" society and presents a tableau portrait of Azerbaijan's capital, Baku, during the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic period that preceded the long era of Soviet rule. It was published under the pseudonym Kurban Said. The novel has been published in more than 30 languages, with more than 100 editions or reprints. The book was first published in Vienna in German in 1937, by E.P. Tal Verlag.

There has been a good deal of interest in the authorship of Ali and Nino. The true identity behind the pseudonym "Kurban Said" has been the subject of some dispute.


/AzerTAc/