The Hertfordshire Press Award for outstanding achievements in shaping and promoting the literary heritage of the Eurasian countries in the international space took place on November 29 during the 8th international festival Eurasian Creative Week in Greenock, Scotland.
The festival events and awards ceremony brought together creative people and diplomats from 15 countries. Literary figures who have published their books with the UK publisher Hertfordshire Press over the past two years were traditionally awarded certificates and statuettes for their professional excellence and for building humanitarian ties both within the countries of the Eurasian space and beyond.
The main prize in the ‘Best Epic’ category went to the poem ‘Narqyz’ by Nurpeis Baiganin, an outstanding Akyn of Kazakhstan. The poem reflects both the impressive heritage of Kazakh national culture, its traditions and spirit, and the incredible relevance of the role of women in modern realities. The poem tells of the adventures of a beautiful young woman, Narkyz – a talented Akyn and an outstanding warrior. The book was published in English in 2024 by the Nurpeis Baiganin Foundation for the preservation and promotion of his literary heritage.
Another statuette was won by life coach Marina Alyasova (Kazakhstan) for her collection of psychological fairy tales ‘Wise Tales For Children And Adults’ in the ‘Best Female Author’ category. This book won the hearts of the expert jury with its kindness and wisdom. The plot of the book is simple and familiar to every parent – a mother helps her young daughter to understand the complex and confusing adult world by telling her funny and instructive stories, through which the child learns to see the good and to understand herself and her place on this planet. The book was published as part of the Maria Shevel Prize, which Marina won in the children’s literature category of the Open Eurasia 2023 literary contest.
The Critics’ Choice category has always been one of the most important awards, highlighting not only the talent of the author, but also the relevance of his or her work, its relevance to the challenges of the times and the highest literary expression. The Gold Certificate of Recognition in this category was awarded to young writer Alikhan Zhaksylyk (Kazakhstan) for his novel ‘Is It Necessary to Worship at Notre Dame’? The book by Alikhan Zhaksylyk, a very young but already well-known writer in his homeland, was published by the British publisher Hertfordshire Press. The book was translated into English by such eminent people as the award-winning translator Bakhtygul Makhanbetova (Kazakhstan) and the editor, translator and writer John Farndon (UK).
All the shortlisted books are now available from the publisher’s official online bookshop, discovery-bookshop.com.
Hertfordshire Press is a British publishing house that unites English-speaking readers with Eurasia through the publication of books, magazines, and guidebooks by authors of the region. Since 2002 the publishing house has specialised in the publication of modern fiction and popular scientific literature by Eurasian authors, as well as the republication of works of past years which are not available in English.
