Balgarianovinite.com Speaking at the Bookfest in Bucharest on Sunday, Bulgarian writer Kostadin Kostadinov said a book is like a child. “A book has its own destiny because it resembles a child. It may be wonderful, but if it is not fortunate in life, it may remain forever in adolescence. When a text appears in another language, that child becomes a young adult and matures. Translators give a book a new life; they are like new parents,” Kostadinov said, presenting the Romanian-language edition of his novel The Butterfly Hunter.
Joining him on the Arena stage at the Romexpo exhibition centre was translator Mariana Mandjulia Jatop.
Kostadinov said that the idea for the book came to him years ago when he read the memoirs of a Bulgarian anarchist from Macedonia. “In his recollections from the early 20th century, he writes about the island of Ada Kaleh. He states quite plainly that it was the realized ideal of the anarchists – an island of absolute absence of authority, forgotten by the neighbouring states after the Congress of Berlin, an island of people living happily. He describes the island in just two or three pages. That was when the idea took root in my mind to use it for a larger work. The idea matured over many years until I met another person who had a large butterfly collection. When those two seemingly incompatible things came together, without any help from artificial intelligence, the idea for the novel was born,” the author revealed.
Mariana Mandjulia Jatop, the translator, read a passage from the book in Romanian.
She said: “I enthusiastically recommend this book to younger readers as well, because alongside its philosophical dimension there is also a first layer of adventure and travel. From that perspective, it is a captivating read that draws you in. It takes us on a journey not only through space but also through time.” Jatop added that the text flows naturally and lightly like a calm river and contains fairy-tale nuances.
“The only challenge was the names of the butterflies, which I also tracked down in Latin. A specialist on the subject from Cluj was a great help to me. As a token of gratitude, I sent him a copy of the book,” Jatop added.
Asked by a member of the audience whether the book is more of a fairy tale or a novel, Kostadinov replied: “Perhaps a fairy-tale novel. By profession I am a publisher, and for 35 years I have been publishing children’s books.”
At the end of the event, Kostadinov received a musical surprise when Gigi Marga’s song “Ada Kaleh” was played. Kostadin Kostadinov Presents Romanian Edition of His Novel “The Butterfly Hunter” in Bucharest 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-06-07 14:26:04 Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Justice Petar Nizamov Feathers Petar Nizamov- Feathers Justice bg iustitia.bg iustitia iusticia usticia investigation Burgas Bulgaria news news of the last hour news of the day news of today Bulgaria news The news from Bulgaria blitz news top news most important most commented latest news Boyko Borisov news weather coronavirus news news weather facebook youtube facebook instagram news today news of the last minutes news today today news news bg news leading news hot news bg news site for news all news news bg news of the last hour latest latest news bg news of today news today news today news of the last hour latest news today news bg news news 24 hours news vesti bg novini news world bird bg bivol bg bivol trud bg novini latest news today novinite bg news hello bulgaria political party coat of arms delyan peevski scandalous Bulgarian National Television Free Europe Television scandal exclusive live tv live right now tv tv online tv program bg live now tv news online tv online live court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas district court Burgas appellate court Burgas prosecutor Burgas prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev Prosecutor Geshev Tsatsarov Ministry of Internal Affairs Burgas ODMR Burgas ODPR Burgas police Burgas district police Burgas prosecutor Tsatsarov SGS cases Varna court chairman of the SGS court decisions on civil cases decisions on cases Plovdiv court decision of the court decisions cases Varna court criminal cases district district court decisions work in the court SGS chairman of the SGS judges Sofia court post judges Plovdiv court Plovdiv judges Plovdiv Supreme Court Inspectorate Supreme Court Supreme Judicial Council lawyer lawyer criminal cases lawyer civil cases lawyer marriage cases lawyer administrative criminal law criminal process civil law civil process administrative law constitutional law