Scandinavian literature, particularly Norwegian, has already firmly established itself on the Bulgarian market for several reasons.
Of course, first is the atmosphere. It’s fascinating, mysterious, and as cold as northern Scandinavia. But beneath the surface, fiery passions simmer – often disastrously so. Usually the background upon which the action unfolds is gloomy and somber, prone to introspection. Most of the characters in the novels of the well-established Norwegian authors in Bulgaria are like that – bearing a complex psyche and pensive. Norwegian literature represents extremely warm, vulnerable human sensibility.
Another type of literature that unexpectedly appealed to the Bulgarian reader was the one dealing with the problems of different people. Evidence of this is Anne B. Ragde’s success with her Neshov Family series where dark family secrets at the brink of morality, and often beyond it, emerge one after another. The Bulgarian reader is open to novels that address the issues of various minorities and marginalized groups, even if the society in general may not be ready to embrace them in its daily life. Perhaps this is caused by the curiosity about something previously unknown, hidden, deliberately ignored, and considered immoral and unacceptable.
Scandinavian authors like Stieg Larsson, Jo Nesbø and Anne Holt have permanently settled on our market. Although crime fiction is quite commercialized, the works of these authors hold numerous elements of the traditional genre, inspired by renowned authors like Agatha Christie. The characters in Scandinavian crime fiction are so interesting due to both their extraordinary intelligence and startling vices.
Not very popular but still known to Bulgarian readers is Ingvar Ambjørnsen – author of drama, crime, and adventure books. His novel Blood Brothers was published in Bulgaria by Persei Publishing House and the movie based on it, Elling, was nominated for Oscar for foreign language film in 2002.
Another interesting name is that of the Norwegian author Thomas Enger. Media and critics from different countries insist on one thing: to remember his name – Thomas Enger. His very first novel Burned (translated into 23 languages, bestseller in 15 countries) made him an international sensation. The author was born in Oslo on November 21, 1973. His mother was a physiotherapist and his father – teacher. He worked as a journalist but put an end to his career to become a writer. Thomas Enger created something new introducing the style of the TV series to the crime genre. This was how the most epic and ambitious crime series was born. It includes 5 books and all of them have been translated into Bulgarian.
Other Norwegian authors, whose works the Bulgarian readers have had the pleasure to read over the years, thanks to the translations of their books, are Helga Flatland, Kurt Aust, Jørgen Brekke, Samuel Bjørk, Jostein Gaarder, Torkil Damhaug, Unni Lindell, Bobbie Peers, Agnes Ravatn, Carl Frode Tiller, Helene Flood, Johan Harstad, Edvard Hoem, Roy Jacobsen, and Thorvald Steen. All of them have succeeded in gaining their own readership that would definitely enjoy reading more of their books.
Our literature, represented by both established and emerging writers, can also attract the attention of the Norwegian readership.
Such author is, of course, Vladimir Zarev. His trilogy Genesis, The Exit, and The Laws will certainly impress the fans of family sagas intertwined with historical events and his novels Ruin and The Hound could be considered to be similar to some of the most-read Norwegian authors and titles.
The fantasy and science fiction author Elena Pavlova is the one who introduced the Bulgarian children and their parents to the legend of The Ring of Nibelung, a literary cycle of four books, based on the popular epic music dramas composed by Richard Wagner.
The Norwegian readership would also be interested in the works of Emil Andreev. The Glass River (its film adaptation was presented in Sofia Film Fest in 2010), The Curse of the Frog, Lom Stories, Late Art Noveau, etc., are highly influenced by northwestern Bulgaria where the author was born.
Another author who works in and for the Northwest is the journalist and writer Marten Kaleev, who has been working for ten years to promote poets, writers, and artists from northwestern Bulgaria, creating the annual almanac Ogosta.
We should also mention the young writers, a product of the Bulgarian northwest, such as the poet, writer, and journalist Ninko Kirilov, winner of many awards from various literary competitions like the Readers’ Award in 2012 from the short story competition of Bogdan Rusev and Radoslav Parushev, a prize for a comic script in 2015, and the competition for debut genre literature of the publishing houses APC and Scribens in 2019.
Authors like Tsvetelina Tsvetkova, whose debut book Lady Gergana, written in a northwestern dialect and with a great sense of “northwestern humor”, is already winning the hearts of readers from all over the country, even where they do not understand the particular speech of Vidin and its surroundings quite well. However, she can also offer another side of herself through her short stories published in The Green Vest.
One of the most significant names among the writers from northwestern Bulgaria is that of the poet and writer Anelia Gesheva. Her talent has long been acknowledged. She is among the authors who are not afraid of trying new genres like poetry, short stories, and novellas. Her poems and short stories have been published by different print and digital media.
From Vratsa is one of the talented pen-masters Madlen Algafari, who proved herself as a writer and poet, while being one of the most recognizable faces in the field of Psychotherapy and Psychology.
In Vratsa lives and works the journalist and poet Jana Kremenska. Allow us to mention and Valentina Valcheva, librarian and author of articles, essays, short stories, popular science readings, and novels. She is an author of four books.
We definitely have to add to this list Madlen Asparuhova – young and extremely talented poet and writer from Vidin. Her works have been published in numerous printed and digital editions, anthologies, and almanacs.
Vratsa is a home to another well-known and colorful northwestern talent – Dimitar Tsolov – “The Doctor”, mostly known as the “Drunk Bard” on the Internet.
Another representative of the northwestern pen-masters is Nikolay Boykov – writer, publicist, literary critic, and translator from Hungarian, Macedonian, etc. His collections of works include Metaphysics, Poems with Biography, Declared in Love, 101 dedications, and prose – Letters to Petar and The Book of Life. He has translated into Bulgarian books from various eminent Hungarian writers.
Let’s not forget Kamelia Slavcheva, who publishes poetry and prose in two languages, winner of many awards Emanuil A. Vidinski, the secretary of the Union of the Bulgarian writers in Vidin Nencho Slavchev, Diana Sirakova, jurist and writer Desislava Kamenova, poet, translator, and librarian Aksinia Mihaylova as well as many others, who have proven that northwestern Bulgaria has and will always have brilliant writers.