Mirza Gelovani

Georgian poet Mirza Gelovani fought in the Soviet ranks during World War II. His work was recognized early on for his “childlike wonderment at nature,” and Gelovani was later characterized by Donald Rayfield as having the ability to “transcend patriotic heroics and invest the horror of war with a naïve enjoyment.”

Gelovani was killed during the crossing of the Vistula River when he was 27 years old. He was posthumously awarded the Shota Rustaveli State Prize in 1975.