Teh first booker prize-winning work by a Bulgarian author… Recreating the past for AlzheimerS treatment
Growing into a national issue, social chaos
Criticism of escapist ‘glorification of memories’
◇Time Shelter/Written by Georgy Gospodinov, translated by Eunyoung Min/17,800 won, 460 pages, Munhakdongne
![[책의 향기]The glory of the past eats up life, memories are sometimes regressive.](https://dimg.donga.com/wps/NEWS/IMAGE/2024/12/06/130586102.4.jpg "[책의 향기]The glory of the past eats up life, memories are sometimes regressive.")
Gaustin, a geriatric psychiatrist, devises a ‘past therapy clinic’ that recreates the past in detail for Alzheimer’s patients who feel comfortable in past memories. The clinic is set up in an apricot-colored building in Zurich, Switzerland, and each floor perfectly recreates a different decade. This is the story of ‘Time Shelter’, which became the first Bulgarian writer to win the booker Prize International category last year.
The novel creates a space for those who have lost their memories that matches their inner time. The idea is that if the time in someone’s head is 1965, at least the limited space of the
The novel, which begins with an Alzheimer’s clinic, gradually moves in an unexpected direction. The concept of being able to live again from the past has captivated more and more people, regardless of illness. The desire to escape the dead end of the present and avoid the past is gradually spreading throughout Europe. Eventually,a referendum is held to decide a specific era in the past to which the entire country will return. Political parties advocating different eras are established and rallies are held.
the narrator, who visits his home country of Bulgaria, learns that the country is divided into two opposing factions. There are those who advocate for the National socialist period of the 1960s and 1970s,and those who claim to return to the late 19th century when they fought against the Ottoman Empire. The two forces hire actors to stage rally events. During an event reenacting the Sarajevo incident that started World War I, a live bullet was fired from a prop gun and the actor who played Archduke Ferdinand actually died, giving the feeling of the past repeating itself.
Rather than developing a clear plot quickly, the novel adopts a loose structure that intersperses patients’ cases, characters’ anecdotes, the narrator’s notes and thoughts, and picture sketches. However,each anecdote is interesting as an independent story. Basically, it is an interesting fable about the nature of memory, identity, and nostalgia. A representative scene is where European countries are holding referendums to return to the most glorious era. It shows through unstoppable plot the kind of regression that blind admiration for the past leads to.
The author confesses that he could not shake the feeling that the world was experiencing a pandemic called ‘the past’ as he watched the spread of conservative populism that invokes the great past across Europe, including Brexit. This novel is like a thought experiment about the dangers brought about by the wrong desire for the eternal past and nostalgia.
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How does “Time Shelter” reflect current socio-political issues in Europe?
Interview between Time.news Editor and Georgy Gospodinov, Author of ‘Time Shelter’
Time.news Editor (TNE): Welcome, Georgy! Congratulations on your monumental achievement as the first Bulgarian author to win the Booker Prize International category with “Time Shelter.” It’s truly a groundbreaking accomplishment. Your novel delves deep into the concept of memory and nostalgia. Can you tell us what inspired you to write “Time Shelter”?
Georgy Gospodinov (GG): Thank you! The inspiration came from observing our collective fascination with the past, especially in times of crisis. As I watched political movements across Europe increasingly romanticize historical periods—there’s this tendency to yearn for a ‘golden age’—I felt compelled to explore this relationship. “Time Shelter” is a reflection of that societal longing, and I wanted to frame it in the context of Alzheimer’s treatment as a metaphor.
TNE: You’ve created a ‘past therapy clinic’ that simulates different decades for Alzheimer’s patients. How did you conceptualize this unique setting, and what does it say about our current societal challenges?
GG: The clinic is a manifestation of our desire to recreate comfort and familiarity. Each floor of the clinic serves to match the patient’s inner timeline, allowing them to relive their cherished memories. However, as the story unfolds, it becomes clear that this yearning transcends illness, capturing a wider audience looking for escape from contemporary dilemmas.It speaks to our current era, where many feel lost—lost in a rapidly changing world that often feels overwhelming.
TNE: The book takes an unexpected turn as society begins to lobby for a return to the past through referendums. This is quite a dramatic evolution.What do you think this reveals about human nature?
GG: It reveals a fundamental conflict within human nature. On one hand, there’s the desire for progress and change; on the othre, an instinct to retreat into the comfort of the past. The referendums serve as a critique of this nostalgia, illustrating how the glorification of bygone eras can lead to societal chaos. As individuals seek security in memories, many can become blind to the realities of today, possibly leading us down a perilous path.
TNE: The blending of personal anecdotes with broader societal commentary creates a compelling narrative structure. Can you explain your choice in employing this loose storytelling format?
GG: I wanted to create a tapestry of experiences, rather than a linear story. Each character’s journey offers an insight into how memory shapes identity. By interspersing their anecdotes and reflections, I invite readers to immerse themselves in these individual stories. This fragmentation mirrors the way our own memories can be disjointed yet profound, reflecting the intricate nature of human experience.
TNE: There are powerful critiques of escapism and the dangers of longing for the past within the novel. What do you see as the most pressing issue related to this theme in today’s world?
GG: I believe the most pressing issue is the rise of populism across Europe, which often invokes a romanticized past as a solution to modern issues. This narrative can lead to a hazardous regression where societies idealize a history that may not truly have been as glorious as they remember. “Time Shelter” serves as a cautionary tale about the perils of nostalgia that clouds our judgment and inhibits progress.
TNE: It sounds like your novel is not onyl an exploration of memory but also a critical lens on our current socio-political climate.As we wrap up, what message do you hope readers will take away from “Time Shelter”?
GG: Above all, I hope readers reflect on their relationship with the past—how it shapes their identities and decisions in the present. It’s essential to acknowledge our memories but also to engage critically with them. We must aim to create a future that learns from history rather than repeat it. With “Time Shelter,” I wish to inspire a dialog about memory, identity, and the choices we make collectively.
TNE: Thank you, Georgy, for sharing your insights with us. “Time Shelter” sounds like a engaging and thought-provoking read that challenges us to reconsider our understanding of memory and progress. We look forward to seeing its impact on readers around the world!
GG: Thank you for having me! I hope it resonates and encourages more conversations about these critical themes.
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