“Ali and Nino” is a novel by Azerbaijani author Kurban Said, first published in 1937. The novel is set in Baku, Azerbaijan, during the years 1918-1920, which was a time of great political and social change in the region.
The story follows the lives of two young people, Ali Khan Shirvanshir, a Muslim Azerbaijani, and Nino Kipiani, a Christian Georgian. Despite their different backgrounds and religions, they fall in love and are determined to be together.
The novel is a romantic tale that explores the themes of love, honour, and the clash of cultures. The story is set against the backdrop of the First World War, the Bolshevik Revolution, and the subsequent establishment of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic.
Ali and Nino’s love is tested by the tumultuous events of the time, as they are caught up in the political and social upheavals that are taking place around them. The novel explores the conflict between tradition and modernity, East and West, and the struggle for independence.
The novel has been translated into many languages and has been widely read around the world. It is considered a classic of Azerbaijani literature and a masterpiece of romantic literature. The true identity of the author Kurban Said is still a subject of debate, as it is believed to be a pseudonym used by a group of writers.
In recent years, the novel has also been adapted into a feature film and an opera. The story of Ali and Nino continues to capture the imagination of readers and audiences around the world as a tale of love that transcends cultural and religious boundaries.
Now, the novel has been made into a steel kinetic sculpture, “Ali and Nino,” also known as “Man and Woman,” an 8-meter-tall statue in Batumi, Georgia. It was installed in 2010. The author of the statue, Tamara Kvesitadze, was inspired by Kurban Said’s 1937 bestseller “Ali and Nino.”
The statue shows two lovers starting to move toward each other and embracing briefly until they are still separated. The entire process takes 10 minutes.