The Rector Prof. Dimitar Dimitrov Welcomed at the UNWE the Winner of Miguel de Cervantes Literary Prize Mr. Sergio Ramirez

The Rector Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov welcomed the writer Mr. Sergio Ramirez and opened the presentation of his latest novel Tongolele Couldn`t Dance. The author is a former Vice-President of Nicaragua and winner of the most prestigious award in the Spanish-speaking world - Miguel de Cervantes Prize.

The Rector Prof. Dimitar Dimitrov and Mr. Sergio Ramirez /from the left to the right/ and the writer's wife

"After the wonderful reviews of Mr. Ramirez's work and the announcement of his visit to Bulgaria, the UNWE suggested to Cervantes Institute - Sofia to organize this event together", pointed out Prof. Dimitar Dimtrov in his welcoming words to the respected Nicaraguan writer. He outlined that the University has many students who study Spanish as first or second foreign language in the frameworks of their studies.

"The UNWE has many international relations and contacts and part of them is also this meeting", said the Rector adding that he had returned from a visit to the University of Toulouse Capitole, one of the partner universities in the European University ENGAGE.EU where the activities of the second phase of European funding under the Erasmus+ Programme were discussed.

He expressed his confidence that every reader getting acquainted with Sergio Ramirez's new novel will experience intellectual joy and wished new creative success to the author.

The Rector gave as gift to Mr. Ramirez the encyclopaedia Bulgaria. Nature, People, Cultures and wished him to see more of the beautiful places of Bulgaria presented in the book

The Director of the Cervantes Institute - Sofia Mrs. Maria Santos and the translator of some of the author's books Mrs. Lyubka Slavova

Mrs. Maria Santos expressed thankfulness to the UNWE for the partnership and said that the meeting with the students earlier that day had been very inspiring. She presented the novel Tongolele Couldn't Dance and both publishing houses – Matcom and Tonipress taht had published Mr. Sergio Ramirez's books in Bulgaria.

Mrs. Lyubka Slavova, translator of the writer's first book published in Bulgarian, said that his writing style is very elegant, sophisticated and leaves a deceptive sense of softness and calm: "Under this calm layer there is a whole ocean of different feelings". She talked about her answer to the question by her students from the NBU how she defines a book as good, very good or brilliant. "If someone reads a book and can't put it down until the end, then the book is good, if someone want to read it again - it's very good, and if, despite these two readings, there are things that are not noticed or some hidden messages and someone want to read it again, then it's brilliant. That's what happened to me with Mr. Sergio Ramirez's books.

"The first question that the writer is usually asked says "Why does he write?", having in mind that there are so many other professions", these were the words Mr. Sergio Ramirez began the discussion with the readers. He talked about his large family, about being the first to graduate from the university, in his case speciality Law, and about the great role his father had played in making the important decisions in his life. The writer believes that the writer must take public responsibility so he cannot write with the windows closed. "My latest novel is about the conflict between the private and public life".

The novel Tongolele Couldn`t Dance had been banned by the Nicaraguan authorities and a warrant for the author's arrest had been issued. It became the reason for his departure to Spain. The novel is the third part of the saga of inspector Dolores Morales. The first two parts which have also been translated into English are Heaven Weeps for Me and No One Weeps for Me Anymore.