Tagged “Macedonian Literature”
Browse Tagged “Macedonian Literature” from the Canadian Macedonian Heritage Society archive, library and community collections.
Creating an Alphabet for Macedonian: Not Quite as Easy as ABC
The Canadian Macedonian Heritage Society hosted a lecture by Christina Kramer at the St. Clement of Ohrid Macedonian Orthodox Cathedral, exploring the development of writing systems and the Macedonian alphabet. Titled “Creating an Alphabet for Macedonian: Not quite as easy as ABC,” the talk highlighted how alphabets evolve and focused on the mid-20th-century standardization of Macedonian led by Blaže Koneski.
Foreboding: based on motifs from A Diary, After Many Years by Koneski
The Canadian Macedonian Heritage Society, in partnership with the Macedonian Film Festival, is proud to present the Canadian premiere of Foreboding (Macedonian title: Јанза - Janza), the acclaimed feature-length documentary on the life and work of eminent poet, philologist and cultural figure Blaže Koneski. The screening was held at Fairview Public Library Theatre (address: 35 Fairview Mall Drive) with a post-screening Q&A and reception.
Putting the Macedonian Modernist Poet, Aco Šhopov, into English
The Canadian Macedonian Heritage Society and the Literaturno Društvo “Brakja Miladinovci” hosted a well-attended literary evening celebrating the work of Macedonian poet Aco Šopov. The event, held at St. Clement Church, featured Christina Kramer and Rawley Grau, who presented their English translation of Šopov’s poetry collection The Long Coming of the Fire. They shared insights into their three-year translation process, read selected poems in both Macedonian and English, and engaged the audience in a discussion that deepened appreciation for Šopov’s powerful, evocative work. The evening highlighted the emotional intensity and historical depth of his poetry, while also recognizing the translators’ dedication. The project was supported by several organizations and published by Deep Vellum Press.
MACEDONIAN IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES – Two Authors, Three Novels
The Canadian Macedonian Historical Society hosted a talk titled “Macedonian Immigrants and Refugees – Two Authors, Three Novels,” featuring a discussion with authors Sylvia Karakaltsas and Tom Petsinis about their works A Perfect Stone, Fitzroy Raw, and Fog. The presentation explored the rare presence of Macedonian protagonists in English-language fiction and examined why the authors chose to focus on Macedonian history and identity. Through their novels, they depict the experiences of young Macedonian refugees and immigrants—highlighting themes of displacement, adaptation, and resilience. The discussion also անդրlined the role of research and personal narratives in shaping their stories, connecting these fictional accounts to the real-life experiences of many Macedonian families in the diaspora.
Double Book Launch: "BANITSA IN THE MAELSTROM OF THE WARS, 1903-1949" and "THE BELLS WILL RING TOMORROW: Tales of Village Life in Aegean Macedonia"
The Canadian Macedonian Historical Society featured a Zoom double book launch moderated by Professor Emerita Christina Kramer on "BANITSA IN THE MAELSTROM OF THE WARS, 1903-1949' presented by Dr. Constantine Mallin and "THE BELLS WILL RING TOMORROW: Tales of Village Life in Aegean Macedonia" presented by Virginia Evans. "Banitsa was a big influential village and here is its story of turmoil affecting the unsettled lives of 3 generations of resilient Macedonians." "There is nothing in English that deals with Macedonian culture in this way. Human response to death, grieving, exploitation and fear, struggle and survival ... a powerful vehicle of storytelling." To order a copy of "Banitsa in the Maelstrom of the Wars, 1903-1949," please email Dr. Dan Mallin at: cdan.mallin@utoronto.ca To order a copy of "The Bells Will Ring Tomorrow: Tales of Village Life in Aegean Macedonia," please email Virginia Evans at: vaenter@rogers.com
Spero Thompson - MACEDONIANA; OUR TREE OF LITERATURE
From our origin in the garden of Eden man has a close relationship with trees. In contemplation of our group of writers The Brothers Miladinov Macedonian Poetry Society it occurred to me that we are very much like a tree, a tree of Literature Like a tree we have four parts, roots, trunk, branches and leaves. Also as an expression of life we produce fruit ( our writings) As to our genus we are of the Macedonian Oak ...
Spero Thompson - BROTHER POET (Kosta Racin born in Veles Macedonia..1909-1943)
Oh! Brother poet Eloquent and gifted Macedonian You are dead, And from the grave no one is able to speak. Yet! You speak, your words come alive Whenever your poems are spoken Wherever your poems are read Here in this land, far away from Macedonia I have read what you have written. Oh, Soldier poet, when you died in the war I was a child nine years of age I would be unable to understand your sad poem “What are these ...
Translating Balkans - Professor Christina Kramer, author, translator, linguist
On March 3, Professor Christina Kramer—Chair of Slavic languages at the University of Toronto—presented a lecture and book launch titled "Translating the Balkans," where she detailed the intricate and often "agonizing" process of translating Macedonian and Bulgarian literary works into English. Focusing on her translations of authors Luan Starova and Goce Smilevski, Kramer described her methodology as a multi-stage evolution: beginning with a raw "blast" of words followed by months of meticulous polishing to balance English fluency with loyalty to the original tone and intent. The event, supported by the Canadian Macedonian Historical Society and the Albanian Canadian Community Association, highlighted the cultural significance of these works and featured a live Skype appearance by Starova, as well as a tribute to Smilevski’s award-winning novel Freud's Sister. Kramer's expertise was underscored by praise from critics and authors alike, emphasizing her ability to make translated prose feel as though it were originally authored in English.
