Unpublished Aitmatov Novel Found In Kyrgyz Author's Archives

Chingiz Aitmatov in 2007, the year before he died

A daughter of celebrated Kyrgyz writer Chingiz Aitmatov says an unpublished novel by her father has been found in his archives.

Shirin Aitmatova told RFE/RL on September 26 that the novel, "Land and Flute," was discovered by relatives recently in Aitmatov's large archives.

The novel, about relations between a young Kyrgyz couple at the construction of the Chui canal in Kyrgyzstan during the 1930s and 1940s, will be published in its original Russian soon.

An English translation is to follow later.

It is not known when the novel was written or why it was not published.

Aitmatov, who wrote in Russian and Kyrgyz, was revered in the Soviet Union as an author who could skillfully describe people's psychological and emotional ordeals.

He died in 2008 in the age of 79.