The novel "The Gardener and Death" by Georgi Gospodinov has been chosen as the book of the year in the ranking of the Polish newspaper "Gazeta Wyborcza". The novel was published in Poland by the "Literary Publishing House" in Krakow, translated by Magdalena Pitlak, informs BTA.
"The Gardener and Death" is a story about helplessness and horror, but also about that special calm that can appear in the face of the irreversible. In this case, it is the death of the writer-narrator's father in his home in Sofia, notes the Polish edition in its annotation for the book. Gospodinov not only observes himself, his own reactions and emotions, but also gives voice to a person who is dying from cancer and in his last moments must rely on the care of the one he himself brought into this world, writes „Gazeta Wyborcza“.
A total of 10 publications are included in the ranking of the Polish newspaper for the book of the year. After the novel by Georgi Gospodinov, there are „Abraxas. Agla, vol. 3“ by the Polish author Radek Rak, the story „The Biography of X“ by Catherine Lacey, „Bye, Amore, Bye“ by Nicola Ladzioja, „The Addict and the Fool“ by Mateusz Górniak, „Kairos“ by Jenny Erpenbeck, „Where to Get Out“ by Katarzyna Boni, „Youth, in You lies the power of joy“ by Denton Welch, „Zero“ by Szczepan Twardoch and „The Sting“ by Paul Murray.
Earlier, the author announced that in Germany, the novel was also chosen as the book of the year by a jury consisting of 30 literary critics.
At the annual meeting of literary critics, which was held at the Stuttgart Literary House, the SWR Bestenliste jury chose the novel „The Gardener and Death“ by writer Georgi Gospodinov as the book of the year of the SWR Bestenliste 2025, local publications report.
"„The Gardener and Death“ is a unique work among books about death, farewell and grief. In this novel about his father, who was passionate in gardening and storytelling, the great European storyteller Georgi Gospodinov reflects the history of Bulgaria before and after 1989", the jury stated in their assessment of the novel. "It is not a book about death, but about the longing for life that passes away.", the critics further summarized in their justification for why they chose "The Gardener and Death" as the book of the year.