Leo Vardiashvili

Leo Vardiashvili is a Georgian-British author born in Tbilisi, Georgia, in 1980. His debut novel, *Hard by a Great Forest* (2023), draws heavily on his personal experiences growing up in Georgia during the tumultuous 1990s following the Soviet Union's collapse. The novel blends dark humor with poignant family drama, exploring themes of displacement, identity, and resilience against a backdrop of political upheaval. Vardiashvili's writing is characterized by its vivid storytelling, warmth, and ability to find humanity amid hardship. *Hard by a Great Forest* received critical acclaim and was longlisted for the Booker Prize in 2023, establishing Vardiashvili as a distinctive new voice in contemporary fiction.