Bulgarian writer Georgi Gospodinov has been awarded the Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres

Bulgarian writer Georgi Gospodinov was awarded the Order of Arts and Letters - the degree of "Chevalier" of France.

The award for his contribution to literature was presented at a solemn ceremony at the Embassy of the Republic of France in Bulgaria on October 23. Georgi Gospodinov dedicated his speech to the French writers who have inspired him over the years and the role of France in popularizing his novels in Europe. Next year, his latest novel "The Gardener and Death" will be published there.

"The only battle worth fighting is the battle for the human, and I think it's a very important battle today, as well as the battle for meaning and empathy. The letters I get from readers, I had a meeting with young people yesterday and when they tell you that your books give them meaning or comfort, I think that is worth the most and that's why I would continue to fight - to win a little meaning in this world where that's becoming more and more difficult."

Images by BGNES

"If I've comforted or answered just a few questions by young readers, I've done my job. That's what I would like to do as a Chevalier of this Order - to try to find meaning together, because we really have a deficit of meaning and a deficit of empathy," said Georgi Gospodinov.

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