A Ballad of Georg Henig

This book by the well-known Bulgarian writer tells the story of an old violin maker devoted—body and soul—to his craft. The author conveys the man’s life, which unfolds in Sofia’s poorest quarter, as well as the lives of the old man’s friends and enemies, through the naïve, pure perception of a boy. The directness of a child’s viewpoint gives the narration a special sincerity and sharp intensity of empathy. As a result, ordinary characters that seem at first glance unremarkable grow into vivid images, and everyday situations force the reader to think about the “eternal” problems of good and evil, love and hatred, inner sensitivity and cold self-assurance. The author’s main goal is to convince the reader that a person must remain moral in any situation.