A Bulgarian translation of “The House of Doors” by Tan Twan Eng was recently discovered by the ambassador of Bulgaria to Finland, Nina Angelova Simova. This, in turn, led to the inaugural Malaysia-Bulgaria Literary Diplomacy Dialogue in Helsinki.
The event, hosted by the Malaysian embassy in Helsinki and moderated by Chargé d’Affaires Ariff Ali, brought together Malaysian, Bulgarian and Finnish readers from fields such as literature, creative writing, art, and international relations.
Tan, a Malaysian author widely celebrated for his elegant prose and historical depth, gained international acclaim when his earlier novel “The Garden of Evening Mists” was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize and won the Walter Scott Prize. This novel is now also being translated into Bulgarian.
The dialogue revolved around Tan’s acclaimed work, sparking thoughtful reflections on identity, colonialism, gender, memory, and the quiet yet enduring power of storytelling.
At the event, Simova, whose academic background is in literary studies, presented her review of the novel, offering both personal and analytical insights. She explored the book’s layered narrative and how it reflects memory and consciousness, weaving in themes of symbolism, colonial legacy, identity, ethics, and orientalism.
“This landmark event sets a meaningful precedent for literary diplomacy and cross-cultural dialogue for both our countries,” a statement from the embassy said.
“It is our hope that more works from Malaysian authors will continue to reach readers not only in Malaysia, Finland and Bulgaria, but also the wider European and global literary landscape.”
The event also underscored the transformative role of translation in cultural exchange. The Bulgarian edition of “The House of Doors”, which was translated by Petja Petkova, was praised for preserving the quiet elegance of Tan’s prose.
“Translation is more than a linguistic act – it is a reimagining that bridges borders while staying true to the heart of a story,” the statement added.
At the event, Tan – in a pre-recorded message that was both candid and enlightening – shared his reflections on writing, characterisation, and inspiration. He also spoke about the quiet power of literature in bridging cultures.
“Literature is an extremely powerful tool in diplomacy, with so much potential; but alas, it is so underused and its value so underappreciated,” he said.