PEN Greece bids farewell to honorary member Ivan Genov

With deep sadness PEN Greece bids farewell to its honorary member, the professor of ancient and modern Greek language and culture and co-founder of Bulgaria’s only classical Lyceum, Ivan B. Genov, who passed away at the age of 68.
Ivan B. Genov was born in Sofia in 1956. He has been involved in translation for many decades. He studied classical philology at the University of Sofia and Byzantine Studies in Munich and taught Greek Palaeography at the University of Sofia. For several years he was the official interpreter in the negotiations between the Greek, Bulgarian and Russian governments.
He was a professor of Ancient and Modern Greek at the National High School of Ancient Languages ​​and Cultures of Sofia and an official translator and interpreter for the Greek Embassy in Sofia.
His rich work includes translations of works by Nikos Kazantzakis, Yannis Ritsou, K.P. Cavafy, Sappho, Giannis Palavos, Panos Ioannidis, Stavros Christodoulou, Tessy Baila, ancient Greek and Latin myths, Procopius’ Anecdotes and Longinus’ On Heights.
Together with the greatest living Bulgarian poet, Kyril Kandiiski, he translated (for the first time into Bulgarian, rendering the original form of the verses) the 154 poems of K. P. Cavafy.
He edited the translations of dozens of novels by Italian, German, English, American and Spanish authors.
He worked as a professor of Ancient Greek and Latin Language and History and as a Translator and editor in publishing houses in Sofia, mainly in the publishing house “COLIBRI”.
He intended to continue with translations of works by Nikos Kazantzakis.
PEN Greece expresses its deepest condolences to his family.