The great Bulgarian poet, translator, playwright and screenwriter Acad. Valeri Petrov has passed away at the age of 94. He is the author of several books of poetry, plays for children and adults, screenplays for the films "On a Small Island", "The Sun and the Shadow", "Knight without an armor" and others. His fellow writers used to call him “His Perfection” for his ability to present life observations in a gentle, seductive and surprising way. This ease of expression, however, was underlined by hard work and relentless self-exigency.

He was a true master in the no less difficult art of translation in five languages - works by iconic authors such as Goethe, Kipling, Jacques Prévert, Alexander Blok, Boris Pasternak, and Gianni Rodari. An undisputed feat is his poetic translation of the dramatic works of Shakespeare. "Shakespeare's linguistic genius became a fortunate challenge to a similar talent. Valeri Petrov took out this extraordinary author from the realm of “classics” and showed him to us the way he is - brimming with vitality”, the eminent Bulgarian translator and lecturer in English literature, prof. Alexander Shurbanov, said. What did Valeri Petrov feel translating the British genius - here is what he told Radio Bulgaria some time ago:

"First of all the difficulties, of course, but also the tremendous joy of being an accomplice in his deep penetration into human passions and the struggle within the soul between good and evil. The translator feels fortunate to transmit, whenever he is able to, the sparkling humor and incredible poetry of this great writer. In general, the great pleasure of talking to a brilliant playwright and poet, and, if you will, at the same time, the secret joy of feeling this great man, a man like myself, after all."

A kind of declaration of love to a younger audience are Valeri Petrov's plays entitled “Five Fairy Tales”:

"Working with children is very joyful because their hearts are pure and writing about them, one is unwittingly forced to wake up inside them the purest recesses in their souls, to return to childhood experiences and days of youth, to childlike joy. This is a very nice feeling."

Valeri Petrov admits that the so-called realistic theater which restores reality as it is does not appeal to him, that the theatre stage for him is more a playground for a flight of fancy. His work is permeated by humanity and thirst for justice, by the ability to discern both beauty and suffering and to fight for more kindness in this confused world.

The poet has won many awards. Among them are the state distinction Paisii Hilendarski, the prize for literature of Sofia University, the Sirak Skitnik award of the Bulgarian National Radio. Last year, he received the EP European citizen award for his contribution to Bulgarian culture and mutual understanding between nations.

Rest in peace, Your Perfection!

English: Rossitsa Petcova