‘Brussels Naked‘ is a novel written with deep intimate knowledge of the multinational context in the capital of united Europe. Irina Papancheva’s elegant composed style harkens back to the best examples of contemporary European prose, and the original structure of the novel adds to its impact.
Each chapter is situated in a separate district of Brussels and has its name, respectively, as well as the name of the character whose story is connected with that place. The narration is saturated with curious details of the city’s history and everyday life, which create an authentic environment. The interaction between the characters and their surroundings make the city an active participant in the novel’s action. Before the reader unfolds an interesting gallery of characters entwined in the threads of a delicate network of connections and storylines. The leading voice is the lyrical alter ego of the author herself, who is unobtrusively present in the individual stories that make up the corpus of the novel.
The topic of Europe is woven organically into the narrative through the author’s critical view of European institutions and bureaucracy. The other major theme is related to the idea of the individual emancipation of the personality from the traditional environment. This applies equally to the local “burghers” and to the “newcomers” from the periphery, without imposing on us the cultural complexes and stereotypes inherent in most authors from Eastern Europe.
As a narrator, Irina Papancheva demonstrates an enviable inner self-confidence and balance that help her bear the paradoxes of Europe’s cultural puzzle, but also the complexity of the interpersonal relationships. Without being overtly emotional, the novel ‚Brussels Naked‘ is imbued with a subtle eroticism and sensitivity that touches and fascinates the reader.
Each chapter is situated in a separate district of Brussels and has its name, respectively, as well as the name of the character whose story is connected with that place. The narration is saturated with curious details of the city’s history and everyday life, which create an authentic environment. The interaction between the characters and their surroundings make the city an active participant in the novel’s action. Before the reader unfolds an interesting gallery of characters entwined in the threads of a delicate network of connections and storylines. The leading voice is the lyrical alter ego of the author herself, who is unobtrusively present in the individual stories that make up the corpus of the novel.
The topic of Europe is woven organically into the narrative through the author’s critical view of European institutions and bureaucracy. The other major theme is related to the idea of the individual emancipation of the personality from the traditional environment. This applies equally to the local “burghers” and to the “newcomers” from the periphery, without imposing on us the cultural complexes and stereotypes inherent in most authors from Eastern Europe.
As a narrator, Irina Papancheva demonstrates an enviable inner self-confidence and balance that help her bear the paradoxes of Europe’s cultural puzzle, but also the complexity of the interpersonal relationships. Without being overtly emotional, the novel ‚Brussels Naked‘ is imbued with a subtle eroticism and sensitivity that touches and fascinates the reader.
Alek Popov, Writer
The original text can be found here.