Head of EU Delegation in Bosnia and Herzegovina and EU Special Representative, Ambassador Peter Sorensen, met today with one of the 12 winners of the 2013 EU Prize for Literature, Faruk Sehic, in the EU house in Sarajevo. Both talked about the current literary and cultural scene in BiH.
On the occasion, Ambassador Sorensen said:
“I am always delighted to see how artists and athletes are able to radiate the most positive image about this country through their own achievements. In only a few months, BiH’s actors and filmmakers have been able to win the prestigious Silver Bear award, BiH football team have now qualified for next summer’s World Cup for the first time and now Mr. Sehic has been awarded with the EU Prize for Literature! I would like to congratulate Mr. Sehic for being able to end the year for BiH on such a positive and uplifting note.”
Mr. Sehic stated:
“The writing process is an exciting exercise. I never know how long it is going to take and how and when it is going to end. As an inspiration for this book, I used the personal memories I have of my own childhood as well as events that followed later on. It is certainly not hard to write about one’s own memories because, as some kind of ‘polaroid snap shots’ they remain with you forever.”
Faruk Sehic was awarded the prize for his book ‘The Book of Una’ (‘Knjiga o Uni’). The book concerns a man trying to overcome the personal trauma caused by the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is also a novel about a child enjoying life by a beautiful river in a small city in BiH.
Born in 1970 in Bihac, Sehic grew up in Bosanska Krupa and now lives in Sarajevo. Literary critics regard him as one of the most gifted young writers from the former Yugoslavia. His books have already been translated into English, German, Bulgarian and Macedonian.
He is a member of the Writers’ Association and the PEN Centre of Bosnia and Herzegovina. He works for the magazine BH Dani as a journalist.
European Union Prize for Literature is funded and founded by the EU’s Culture Programme. Each winner receives 5,000 Euros, their books receive wide promotion and each writer receives financial support to see their work translated.
To find out more about the EU Prize for literature, click here
