The novel “Montana” written by journalist Alexandru Popescu, which is about a young man who fled from Transnistria, was recently awarded the Thinker of Hamangia prize that is bestowed in the framework of the project “Winds, Waves” coordinated by writer and dramatis Val Butnaru. The clay figure that is a replica of the famous ceramic statue discovered in Romania is annually awarded for merits in literature, music, painting and film IPN reports.


“This is an award that honors me and makes me be tougher on myself, in the moments I will write. I will place the statuette in an honorable place, among the books,” Alexandru Popescu stated for IPN.


On December 10, the book was launched in Romania in the 29th edition of the book fair “Gaudeamus Radio Romania”. Attending the launch, writer Moni Stănilă said “Montana” confirms her thesis that the Bessarabian prose has a moment of grace, with young, very powerful voices. “For me, the novel was a real surprise. It is an exceptional debut novel. I think the established prose writers with ten titles can meet with bigger difficulties than I felt here. It went normally smooth. It is felt that this is a novel that wanted to be written,” stated Moni Stănilă.


Literary critic Mircea V. Ciobanu in a recent account published in the Romanian magazine “Romanian Life” said that “Montana” is a precious source for feeling again the atmosphere of reality of a concentration universe close to the heart of Europe, which is authentic and as unimaginable.


The book printed at the ARC publishing house appeared in bookshops in Moldova in April. It is about the fate of a child who grew up in Bender and was a witness to the Nistru war and in time became a successful journalist in the UK. The painful past does not allow him to forget this and calls him back to Transnistria. There, Ivan Josan (main character) will have to face the old fears and psychological trauma.

Alexandru Popescu was born on September 26, 1987 in Bender town that is now controlled by the unrecognized Transnistrian authorities. He earlier worked as a reporter for radio and TV stations in Chisinau and also for IPN News Agency. Over five years ago, he moved to Maidstone in the UK together with his wife and daughter.