Thanksgiving is behind us, but we still have plenty to be thankful for. For example, tomorrow marks the release of The Season of Delicate Hunger, an anthology from Bulgaria’s brightest, most passionate poets.

All poems were painstakingly translated from their original Bulgarian, almost entirely by editor Katerina Stoykova-Klemer.¹ “My goal in creating this anthology has been to capture a cross-section of the contemporary life of poetry in Bulgaria,” Katerina says, “and to present it to American readers in a way I hope they’ll find fresh, inspiring and engaging.”

Here’s what people are saying about The Season of Delicate Hunger:

“Reading this poetry is like ice-skating in a dream: thrilling!”

– Marilyn Kallet,
poet, translator;
Director, Creative Writing Program,
University of Tennessee

“The Season of Delicate Hunger performs the vital work of sharing the soul’s language across our fragile borders.”

– Rebecca Gayle Howell,
poet, translator of Hagar Before the Occupation / Hagar After the Occupation, poems by Amal al-Jubouri

“The anthology is a valuable introduction to a wide variety of voices most of us have never heard before. “

– J. Kates,

poet, translator,
editor of In The Grip of Strange Thoughts: Russian Poetry in a New Era

 

This collection represents a chance to experience unique, human perspectives that are both foreign and familiar. As Katerina says in her introduction, “It is my great hope that you enjoy this book and feel closeness to the poets. It is my hope that you feel as if you’ve read something brand new, yet something you’ve known all along.”

¹Poems not translated by Katerina Stoykova-Klemer: Zoya Marincheva translated Kerana Angelova’s work, Angela Rodell translated Ivan Hristov’s work and Dimiter Kenarov translated his own work.