The Unknown Letters of Marie Prittwitz to the Makarashvili Family

Abstract

The translator of “The Knight in the Panther’s Skin” into German, Marie Prittwitz (née Huber) had the close relationship with the family of the Minister of Finance and Trade and Industry of the First Republic of Georgia, Giorgi Zhuruli. Marie was born on July 2^nd, 1876 in the city of Chisinau, Bessarabia governorate. She graduated from the 8^th grade of St. Mary’s General Gymnasium in Odessa. She then studied at the Women’s First Lyceum in Dresden, majoring in mathematics and geography. M. Prittwitz received a wide humanitarian and technical education, which was facilitated by the innate talent for mastering foreign languages. She spoke several languages, including: French, Italian, Romanian, Latin, Polish, Russian, German, English. M. Prittwitz started her scientific work in 1918, and literary work in 1894. M. Prittwitz often visited the family of Nino Zhuruli in Tbilisi, as well as in Arbo.  It was during her stay in Arbo that Nino Zhuruli advised Marie to translate “The Knight in the Panther’s Skin” into German. Marie Prittwitz maintained her friendly relationship with Nino Zhuruli even after leaving Georgia. She sent a number of letters to her Georgian friend, where she warmly reminisces the episodes of her visits, especially the days spent in the native village of Nino Zhuruli – Arbo. As we mentioned, Marie Prittwitz was inspired by Nino Zhuruli to translate “The Knight in the Panther’s Skin” into German. The Georgian Academy of Sciences was also interested in retelling the immortal poem of Shota Rustaveli in German, although communication between Marie Prittwitz and Georgian scholars was hampered. Prittwitz’s honorarium was delayed. It turns out that Nino Zhuruli had close relations with Georgian scientists Sh. Nutsubidze and S. Janashia, and the Moldavian translator asked her Georgian friend to encourage the relations with representatives of the Georgian Academy of Sciences. The friendship between Marie Prittwitz and Nino Zhuruli continued, evident in several cards of the German translator of “The Knight in the Panther’s Skin”.

Marie Prittwitz, living in Ufa, continued her translation work, and her translated literary texts were published in various literary publications. From time to time, she sent published translations to her friend Nino Zhuruli in Georgia.

After the death of Nino Zhuruli, Marie Prittwitz continued a close relationship with Nino’s daughter – Irina Makarashvili and her husband Anatoli Kiziria. This friendship originated from the relationship between Marie and Nino.