The Eighth Life (for Brilka)

Summary

The Eighth Life (for Brilka) follows seven generations of a Georgian family across the twentieth century, beginning in the early 1900s and continuing through the collapse of the Soviet Union. At the centre of the story is a family secret connected to a remarkable recipe for hot chocolate, which brings both extraordinary pleasure and devastating consequences. Through the lives of Stasia, Christine, Kostya, Kitty, and their descendants, the novel explores love, ambition, political repression, and the sacrifices people make to survive turbulent times. The family’s history unfolds against the backdrop of revolutions, Stalinism, world wars, and the struggle for Georgian independence. Narrated by Niza, who recounts the family’s past to her young niece Brilka, the novel examines how historical trauma is passed from one generation to another and whether understanding the past can offer a chance to break its cycle.