About the book: 2022 / Fazil Iskander (1929–2016) - prose writer and poet, classic of Russian literature of the twentieth century, author of the legendary epic novel " Sandro from Chegem" and, by his own admission, "certainly a Russian writer who glorified Abkhazia." Evgeny Popov, who knew Iskander personally, and Mikhail Gundarin, in a lively and relaxed conversation, restore and analyze the life path of the future classic: from the history of Fazil’s family and childhood to national recognition. HIS ABKHAZIA: Mukhus and Chegem, the magical world of Sandro, Chik, Uncle Kazim... HIS UNIVERSITIES: from Moscow State University to the Library and Literary Institute. HIS TEXTS: from youthful poetry to great prose. HIS POLITICS: how did Iskander’s participation in the scandalous almanac end? Metropol" and its rise to power during Perestroika?