Petar Andonovski

Petar Andonovski is a Macedonian prose writer best known for his contributions to contemporary literature. He won the National Novel of the Year Award for The Body One Must Live In (2015) and the European Union Prize for Literature for Fear of Barbarians (2020).

Petar Andonovski was born in 1987 in Kumanovo, North Macedonia. At the University of Cyril and Methodius in Skopje, he studied general and comparative literature at the Faculty of Philology. This academic foundation has significantly influenced his literary career, shaping his unique narrative style and thematic focus.

Andonovski's literary journey began with the publication of his poetry collection, Mental Space (2008). Transitioning to prose, his debut novel Shoe-Colored Eyes (2013) established his presence in the literary world. He gained national acclaim for his The Body One Must Live In (2015), winning the Novel of the Year award. Reflecting on this achievement, Andonovski stated, "This novel is about the struggle to find one's place in a world that often demands conformity."

His subsequent work, Fear of Barbarians (2018), garnered international recognition by winning the European Union Prize for Literature in 2020. Andonovski's exploration of identity and societal expectations resonated with readers and critics alike.

Continuing his literary pursuits, Andonovski has been a writer in residence in various countries, including Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, and Montenegro. These experiences have enriched his storytelling, providing diverse cultural perspectives that inform his work.

Andonovski's latest book, The Summer Without You (2020), has been described as the first queer story in Macedonian literature. Published in the "PROaZA" edition by the publishing house "Ili-Ili," the book explores love, loss, and self-discovery.

Reviewer Ana Martinoska remarked, "Andonovski tells us again about the struggle to be your own and not what others expected from you."

The Summer Without You, translated into English and published in 2024, has received critical acclaim. John Sam Jones praised it, saying, "Dark, absorbing and deeply moving… when memories remain unresolved there can be chaos. I loved this novella." The narrative intricately weaves the lives of three characters, examining their complex relationships and emotional turmoil. Mihangel Morgan, the author of Melog, commented, "An intricate, puzzling story plaited between three characters — the nameless narrator, the mysterious and elusive Ivan, and the self-centred Vlado — forensically examines their tortured love triangle."

Petar Andonovski stil lives in Kumanovo.

Photo credit: Сашо Димоски