site.btaNational Palace of Culture Director: Peroto Literary Awards Aim for Higher Standards

National Palace of Culture Director Andriana Petkova said on Monday that raising the standard and significance of the Peroto literary prizes is a key goal.

Petkova delivered her remarks at the annual literary awards ceremony for Bulgarian literature and translation from Bulgarian into foreign languages, held at the Peroto Club at the National Palace of Culture (NPC) in Sofia.

She noted that work had continued throughout the past year on two English-language editions featuring children’s literature and contemporary Bulgarian writing. She added that promoting the best of Bulgaria’s literary achievements internationally is central to the NPC’s mission.

For the first time this year, winners also received a cash prize alongside the statuette designed by Emil Popov.

Svetlozar Zhelev, Director of the National Book Centre, said that, since their inception in 2015, the Peroto awards have become some of the most important national literary prizes in Bulgaria. He described the event as a celebration of literary quality and a recognition of exceptional Bulgarian authors, illustrators, translators and publishers.

This year’s jury consisted of Yordanka Beleva (writer and poet), Maria Kalinova (poet, previous Peroto Poetry Award recipient, lecturer at Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski, and editor at Literary Newspaper), Emiliyan A. Vidinski (poet, writer, and editor at Literary Newspaper), Todora Radeva (writer and Executive Director of the Reading Sofia Foundation), and Tsanko Lalev (poet, writer, and publisher). Zhelev noted that the panel reviewed more than 180 books in the categories of Poetry, Children’s Literature, Prose, and Debut, as well as nominations for 23 translators translating Bulgarian literature into other languages.

In the Children’s Literature category, the nominees were “Two Difficult Flowers and a Fairy-Eater” by Katya Antonova, illustrated by Mila Lozanova (Ribka Publishing); “Listeners” by Bilyana Pancheva (Lisiche Publishing); and “The Quiet Forest” by Slavi Stoev, illustrated by Ina Hristova (Tochitsa Publishing). The award was presented to Slavi Stoev for “The Quiet Forest.”

“This book had a difficult journey; it is its second award this year after winning the Biserche Valshebno Children's Choice Awards earlier this year. It shows that good things may start with difficulty, but are ultimately rewarding,” Stoev said, receiving the statuette and the BGN 1,500 cash prize.

In the Debut category, the nominees were “Shores of Bohemia” by Rumen Denev (Aquarius Publishing), “And Our Bed Is Verdant” by Violeta Radkova (Janet 45 Publishing), and “Roots and Lights” by Lyuboslava Traykova (Janet 45 Publishing). The prize went to Violeta Radkova.

“I am grateful to the book itself, which persevered even when I abandoned it countless times, and came into being in spite of my own doubts,” Radkova said.

In the Poetry category, the finalists were Nikola Petrov for “Here Is the Repentant Victor” (Da Publishing), Olya Stoyanova for “How the Laws of Nature Save Us” (Janet 45 Publishing), and Albena Todorova for “To Be Your Body” (Janet 45 Publishing). Nikola Petrov won the award and noted that, above all, authors want to be read.

In the Prose category, nominations included “The Pain Arrives Later” by Antonia Apostolova (Janet 45 Publishing), “The Gardener and Death” by Georgi Gospodinov (Janet 45 Publishing), and “Beneath the Moon, Enormous as a Pumpkin” by Boyan Yordanov (Janet 45 Publishing). Georgi Gospodinov received the award for “Death and the Gardener,” with his wife, Bilyana Kurtasheva, accepting the prize on his behalf.

“The Bulgarian literary scene is experiencing remarkable growth and renewal, offering space for diverse voices and setting higher standards for quality,” Kurtasheva said.

The prize for translation from Bulgarian into another language went to Andreas Tretner for his German translation of “The Blue Boy” by Alexandar Vutimski. The award was presented by Elena Shekerletova from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and accepted by Yana Genova of the House for Literature and Translation on behalf of Tretner. Genova commented on the rarity of translated poetry, especially by late authors: “This edition is a genuine achievement,” she said.

Vladimir Levchev received the Lifetime Achievement award from Deputy Minister of Culture Georgi Sultanov. In his acceptance remarks, he noted that this year marks thirty-five years dedicated to literature. Levchev remarked that while the term "dedicated" may seem clichéd and imply effort or sacrifice, literature truly defines the purpose of his conscious life.

Petkova presented a special Peroto award to Georgi Mishev, who turned 90 on the day of the ceremony. The statuette and cheque for BGN 2,000 were accepted by his son, Mikhail Veshim, who relayed his father’s message to young people: “Write literature, not posts on Facebook, because you can quickly fall from the heights with a single post.”

As previously covered by BTA, recipients of the Lifetime Achievement award over the years have included Boris Hristov, Ivan Teofilov, Vladimir Popov, Ivan Tsanev, Svetlozar Igov, Bozhana Apostolova, Georgi Borisov, Vladimir Zarev, and Georgi Gospodinov. The organizers are the Peroto Club and the National Book Centre at the NPC.