Macedonian writer Hristo Petreski has been awarded the “Kočić’s Pen” prize for the spring edition of this year, which is presented for outstanding achievements in contemporary literature and devotion to the beauty of Kočić’s thought and word, the Petar Kočić Endowment Banjaluka–Belgrade announced.
The jury, chaired by Nikola Vukolić and composed of Miljenko Jergović and Mladen Vesković, unanimously decided to award Petreski for his book Reversed (The Philosophy of a Snail), published by “Macedonia Present” from Skopje.
“This book is not merely a collection of poetic texts; it is a mosaic of intimate confessions, social critique, anthropological insights, and existential questions woven into every verse,” said Vukolić.
He emphasized that the collection Reversed (The Philosophy of a Snail) represents a powerful poetic world built on the foundations of human vulnerability, moral dilemmas, everyday trauma, and hope. It is rich in symbolism, philosophical reflections, and linguistic precision.
“In this poetry collection, Petreski continues his authentic poetic expression — minimalist yet semantically rich, where every word matters, and every image carries more weight than it appears at first glance. His poems reflect themes of introspection and hope for change, as well as criticism of social apathy and personal weakness,” Vukolić noted.
Professor Dr. Hristo Petreski, born in 1957 in Kruševo, is one of the most prominent contemporary Macedonian poets, essayists, and writers. He has published dozens of books and received numerous literary accolades and awards.
The “Kočić’s Pen” award, presented by the Petar Kočić Endowment Banjaluka–Belgrade, will be formally awarded at the end of May in Skopje.
Source: RTRS
