A teenage boy starts his life anew at a Catholic boarding school in the city of Calbe/Saale, Germany while his father is a fellow at the famous Martin-Luther University. During the turbulent decade of the 90s, Bulgaria could not offer very bright international perspectives, so learning a foreign language in a natural environment seemed like the best decision a university professor could take for his son. A touching story about learning to dream and fight one’s battles in a foreign language. A tale about true friendship, honour, love and loneliness, that gradually reveals many answers to adulthood trauma. The fascinating adventure of a young, delicate soul.

By the end of 2023 the novel was longlisted for the Peroto national literary award for contemporary Bulgarian prose and shortlisted for the national readers’ Helikon award. In 2024 it was shortlisted at the Novel of the Year award of the National Endowment Fund 13 Centuries Bulgaria and for the European Literary Prize (by the Bulgarian committee).

cover design by hristo gochev