Georgi Gospodinov facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Georgi Gospodinov
|
|
|---|---|
.jpg)
Gospodinov circa 2005
|
|
| Native name |
Георги Господинов
|
| Born | January 7, 1968 Yambol, Bulgaria |
| Notable works | The Physics of Sorrow (2012); Time Shelter (2020) |
| Notable awards |
|
| Spouse | Bilyana Kourtasheva |
Georgi Gospodinov (born January 7, 1968) is a famous writer, poet, and playwright from Bulgaria. His book, Time Shelter, won the important International Booker Prize in 2023. He shared this award with his translator, Angela Rodel. It also won the Strega European Prize. Another of his novels, The Physics of Sorrow, also won major awards like the Jan Michalski Prize and the Angelus Award. His books have been translated into 25 different languages, meaning people all over the world can read them!
Gospodinov writes stories that are often deep and thoughtful. They explore the recent past of Eastern Europe and common worries people have today. His writing often mixes poetry with fiction and uses a lot of irony (saying one thing but meaning the opposite). Many people say his books help readers understand and deal with sad feelings, turning them into a way to feel more connected to others.
Contents
About Georgi Gospodinov
Early Life and School
Georgi Gospodinov was born on January 7, 1968, in a city called Yambol, in Bulgaria. He studied Bulgarian language and literature at Sofia University. Later, he earned his PhD in New Bulgarian Literature from the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. In 2024, he wrote a book called The Gardener and Death, which was inspired by his father's passing.
His Writing Journey
Gospodinov started writing poetry in the early 1990s. He published two poetry books, Lapidarium (1992) and The cherry of a people (1996). Both of these books won national literary awards in Bulgaria.
First Novels and Short Stories
He became known around the world with his book Natural Novel. This book has been published in 21 languages. Critics have called it an "experimental" and "earthy" first book. It tells the story of a young writer living in Bulgaria after the end of communism.
In 2001, Gospodinov released a collection of short stories called And Other Stories. This collection was considered for the Frank O'Connor Award and was translated into many languages. One of the stories, "Blind Vaysha," was even made into a short animated film.
He also worked on a graphic novel (a comic book that tells a long story) called The Eternal Fly. He created this book with artist Nikola Toromanov in 2010.
The Physics of Sorrow
His second novel, The Physics of Sorrow, came out in 2012. It won the Bulgarian National Award for Best Novel in 2013 and was translated into many languages. Many critics praised this book, saying it was a "gorgeous work" and that it helped bring Bulgarian literature to a wider European audience. The Italian and German versions of the book were also nominated for other important literary prizes.
Time Shelter and Global Recognition
Gospodinov's novel Time Shelter was first published in 2020. It has also been translated into many languages. Famous author Olga Tokarczuk called it "the most exquisite kind of literature" about how we see time. Another writer, Sandro Veronesi, described it as a "powerful and brilliant novel." For Time Shelter, Gospodinov won the Strega European Prize in 2021. The English translation, done by Angela Rodel, won the prestigious International Booker Prize in 2023.
Films Based on His Work
Georgi Gospodinov has also written screenplays for short films. His screenplay for a film called Omelette received an award at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival.
Two animated short films have been made based on his stories by Bulgarian-Canadian filmmaker Theodore Ushev. The 2016 film Blind Vaysha was based on Gospodinov's short story and was even nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film. In 2019, Ushev released another animated film called The Physics of Sorrow, also based on Gospodinov's work.
Awards and Honors
Georgi Gospodinov has received many awards and honors for his writing:
- Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, 2024 (a special honor from France)
- International Booker Prize, 2023, winner
- Strega European Prize, Rome, 2021, winner
- Usedom Prize for European Literature, 2021, winner
- Zinklar Prize for Best Short Fiction, Denmark, 2021, winner
- Angelus Award, Poland, 2019, winner
- Jan Michalski Prize for Literature, Switzerland, 2016, winner
- Prozart Award, Skopje, 2016, winner (for his contribution to literature in the Balkans)
- National Literary Award Bulgarian Novel of the Year, 2013, winner
- National Award Hristo G. Danov for Best Fiction, 2012, winner
- The City of Sofia Award for Literature, 2012, winner
He was also named an International Writer by the Royal Society of Literature in 2024.
See also
In Spanish: Gueorgui Gospodínov para niños
