{"product_id":"tbilisi-crossroads-of-the-caucasus-maximilian-hess","title":"Tbilisi: Crossroads of the Caucasus – Maximilian Hess","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eTbilisi: Crossroads of the Caucasus – Maximilian Hess\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"line-height: normal;\"\u003eA kaleidoscopic portrait of Tbilisi, one of the most distinctive and dynamic cities at the crossroads of Europe and Asia.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"line-height: normal;\"\u003eLocated between East and West, Tbilisi has long been shaped by successive empires, diverse cultures and competing political influences. Today, its layered urban fabric brings together medieval churches, nineteenth-century merchant houses, Soviet-era interventions and ambitious contemporary architecture, creating one of the most fascinating cityscapes in the Caucasus.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"line-height: normal;\"\u003eIn this engaging account, Maximilian Hess traces the transformation of Georgia’s capital since 1989, exploring how the city’s streets, neighbourhoods and public spaces have been shaped by dramatic political, economic and social change. Through themes ranging from architecture and urban development to art, music, protest and national identity, he reveals how Tbilisi has continually reinvented itself while retaining its distinctive character.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"line-height: normal;\"\u003eThe book also examines the city’s pivotal role in the post-Soviet world. From the collapse of the Soviet Union and the emergence of market reforms to growing tensions with Russia and the wider geopolitical significance of the Caucasus, Tbilisi provides a unique lens through which to understand many of the defining events of the past four decades.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"line-height: normal;\"\u003eRichly observed and deeply researched, this is both a portrait of a remarkable city and an exploration of how architecture, culture and politics intersect in the making of place. An ideal read for those interested in urban history, architectural heritage and the evolving cities of Eastern Europe and the Caucasus.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"line-height: normal;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eKey Features\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" type=\"disc\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;\"\u003eExplores Tbilisi’s rich architectural heritage, from historic districts and vernacular buildings to Soviet and contemporary developments.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;\"\u003eExamines the transformation of the city since 1989 through the lens of urban, cultural and political change.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;\"\u003eReveals how Tbilisi’s built environment reflects its position between Europe and Asia.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;\"\u003eBy the award-winning author of \u003ci\u003eEconomic War: Ukraine and the Global Conflict Between Russia and the West\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;\"\u003eEssential reading for enthusiasts of architecture, urbanism, history and the cities of the former Soviet world.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify; line-height: normal; background: white; margin: 9.0pt 0cm 9.0pt 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; letter-spacing: .35pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;\"\u003e‘Through Tbilisi’s streets, institutions, landmarks and characters, Hess illuminates Georgia’s contested past, resilient society and turbulent political present. Weaving intricate personal experience with historical insight and nuance, this is a compelling, vivid and deeply informed portrait of a city—and country—in perpetual transformation.’ - Natia Seskuria, author of Georgia’s Silent War\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor: \u003c\/b\u003eMaximilian Hess\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e C Hurst \u0026amp; Co Publishers Ltd\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat: \u003c\/b\u003ePaperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages: \u003c\/b\u003e352\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Lato',sans-serif; color: #333333; background: white;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #333333; background: white;\"\u003e9781805265764\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublication date: \u003c\/b\u003eOctober 2026\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Maximilian Hess","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":59176627700095,"sku":"9781805265764","price":18.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0263\/7797\/7910\/files\/9781805265764-Tbilisi.jpg?v=1794508967","url":"https:\/\/bookshop.rias.org.uk\/products\/tbilisi-crossroads-of-the-caucasus-maximilian-hess","provider":"RIAS Bookshop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}