Strangers in a Strange Land

The book explores the complex dynamics of nineteenth-century Georgian intelligentsia and their efforts to establish European-style public spheres. Manning delves into the tensions between European aspirations and the realities of identity as Georgian correspondents engage with the unfamiliar cultures of Oriental Georgia. This encounter reveals a crisis in self-definition, highlighting the challenges faced by European Georgians in assimilating the diverse populations of their reconquered territories. The work examines how these experiences shaped concepts of public life and national identity.