Georgi Gospodinov: The Booker Prize Winner Visits AUBG

 Bulgarian author Georgi Gospodinov and literary translator Angela Rodel participated in an event on April 4 at AUBG’s BAC Auditorium. The two shared more about Gospodinov’s book Time Shelter, which was translated into English by Rodel and published in 2020. It was the first Bulgarian novel to win the International Booker Prize.

Gospodinov, one of the most recognized contemporary Bulgarian writers and poets, is celebrated for his innovative style and exploration of themes such as memory and identity. His acclaimed debut novel "Natural Novel" and subsequent works blend surrealism, folklore, and postmodernism to offer profound insights into the human condition.

 

Rodel, a close friend of Gospodinov for over a decade, was given a “sneak preview” of his novel. 

 

The event at AUBG included a Q&A session in which the audience asked about the book, Gospodinov's writing style, his decision to name the protagonist Gaustine, and even Angela's role in curating the playlist for "Time Shelter." Additionally, there was a discussion about potential plans to turn the novel into a play in the future.

During the event, Gospodinov discussed the hidden meaning of the title. He mentioned: “Gaustin is becoming increasingly obsessed with the past in the book's pages. His. Bulgaria’s past.” According to Gospodinov, the memories of the past became a "shelter" for Gaustin who has Alzheimer's. 

 

The Guardian also mentions the meaning of the title: "Time Shelter – is a neologism in Bulgarian as it is in English, a grafting from the noun “bomb shelter” (...) well found in its ambiguity: sheltering from time, and sheltering within time."

 

Gospodinov initially expressed uncertainty about publishing his book during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, he noted that the situation was appropriate for the book's theme - a “clinic for the past.” Gospodinov completed the book in February 2019, shortly before the pandemic began. The book contains a connotation of the “virus of the past.” The author hoped a pandemic like the one in the book [or COVID-19] would not occur until 10 to 15 years later. 

 

"We are the storytellers of the world!" he said, and "people  began exchanging stories long before they started trading with money or goods." According to Gospodinov, literature is the first science of people. This is how he described the value of literature and humanitarian specializations. 

 

Gospodinov concluded by emphasizing the importance of closing the doors to the past, even though there is nothing wrong with opening them to revisit memories. You can relive the past with all of your five senses, but dwelling on the past too much can depersonalize you from the present. 

After the talk, Gospodinov chatted with his fans and signed copies of his books in both Bulgarian and English, adding personal dedications to each. 

Editor: Niya Manditsch