Announcing the winner of the 2023 International Booker Prize

On May 23, in London (UK), the International Booker Prize Council announced the winner of this prestigious award in 2023.

Angela Rodel and Georgi Gospodinov, translator and author of Time Shelter, winner of the 2023 International Booker Prize. Photo: irishtimes.com

Angela Rodel and Georgi Gospodinov, translator and author of Time Shelter, winner of the 2023 International Booker Prize. Photo: VNA

With the novel "Time Shelter" by writer Georgi Gospodinov and translator Angela Rodel being named as the winners, this is the first time the International Booker Prize has been awarded to a Bulgarian work.

"Time Shelter" is a story about a "past clinic" that treats people with Alzheimer's disease. In order to stimulate the memories of patients, the clinic carefully recreates the atmosphere of decades past, down to the smallest detail. Over time, even people without memory problems come to this clinic, looking for a way to escape the pressures of modern life...

Chairwoman of the International Booker Prize Council - Ms. Leila Slimani (a French writer of Moroccan origin) commented: "This novel opens up many reflections, mixed with reservations and cautions. The work moves us by its language - sensitive and precise, and the extreme fragility of the past". Meanwhile, other members of the jury also commented that "Time Shelter" is rich in creativity, has a bold tone and surprises when asking readers questions about the dangers of selective memory, the genetic nature of trauma, how nostalgia can hold back society...

Born in 1968, novelist and poet Georgi Gospodinov is the most internationally acclaimed contemporary Bulgarian author. His works have been translated into 25 languages worldwide .

Speaking about the award, Mr Gospodinov said: "This encourages writers, not only from my country, but also from the Balkans - who often feel that they are outside the attention of English speakers."

The translator for "Time Shelter" is Angela Rodel. She was born and raised in Minnesota, but lives and works in Bulgaria. Her translations of poetry and prose have been published in literary journals and anthologies. In 2014, in recognition of Rodel's contributions to Bulgarian culture, the Bulgarian government granted her citizenship of the country.

Speaking to the press, Ms. Rodel said: "I discussed a lot with Georgi about how to translate this work. We will not only translate the text but also convey the atmosphere, context... of the story." Meanwhile, writer Gospodinov also admitted that: "It is not easy to translate this work, because the book refers to different decades in the 20th century and uses different languages that we have in this decade."

The prestigious International Booker Prize is awarded annually to a novel or short story collection originally written in any language, translated into English, and published in the UK or Ireland. The prize, worth £50,000 ($62,000), is split equally between the author and translator.

Last year, the award went to the Hindi novel "Tomb of Sand" by Indian author Geetanjali Shree, translated by Daisy Rockwell.

According to VNA

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