Gotua, Levan Partenovich

Born Mar. 10, 1905, in Tbilisi. Soviet Georgian writer. Graduated from the department of economics of the University of Tbilisi.

Gotua is the author of the historical novellas The Krtsanisi Sorrow (1956) and The Wayward Caravan (1957) and the historical novel The Destiny of Heroes (vols. 1–4, 1958–62) drawn from the life of 17th-century Georgia, which was torn by internecine feudal strife. The first book of the historical trilogy Mithridates (1968) isa narrative about ancient Colchis defending itself against the incursions of the Romans. Gotua’s novel The Lion Cub (1966) and books of short stories and sketches deal with contemporary themes. During the Great Patriotic War of 1941–45 his historical dramas King Erekle (1942) and David the Builder (1945) and his play The Invincible Ones (1943), about the feats of Soviet sailors, played successfully in Georgian theaters.