INTERVIEW FOR THE NOBEL ACADEMY COMMISSION
For the beginning of this interview, I
feel obliged to specify the fact that Mrs. Georgeta Blendea Zamfir,
comes from the Carpatho-Danubian Pontic area, from Romania, is the
president of the DacoRomanian Academy, Brașov branch, Romania and with a
lifelong activity as a Romanianan language teacher and Romanian
literature. So, Mrs. Georgeta Blendea Zamfir, I will start with the
questions to which I would like you to give me as conclusive and
accurate answers as possible.
- Who nominated you for the Nobel Prize for Literature?
-The DacoRomanian Academy received
from the Svenska Akademies Nobelkommitte the invitation to send
nominations, this did not surprise me due to the fact that Sweden has a
great Dacian culture.
- What do you think were the motivations for which you were nominated?
-I specify the fact that since I was a
teenager I was fascinated by Dacianism, especially because in my
hometown, Teliu, there is a Dacian fortress. I followed this topic in
the accumulation of my culture and I was very happy when the
international festivals supported by Doctor Napoleon Savescu, a doctor
from Canada, himself passionate about the great ancestral culture of our
space, started to be held. Following a contest at Radio Romania
Cultural, I was invited to “Boema” Bucharest, being from Brasov. In this
space of cultural elevation, I contacted a member of the DacoRomanian
Academy, after the interview, I was named a member especially because I
revealed the Dacian space, from my native region, Brasov, and the story
about the popular costumes from the Dacia commune impressed me. Women
wear impressive ornaments on their heads that send thoughts to the
goddesses, for example, of the rain, the sun, the fog, the moon, etc.
And so on working within the DacoRomanian Academy Bucharest, I was
nominated for the Nobel Prize taking into account my literary activity,
which I have had since I was 15, when I first published.
- What activity have you carried out that supports you in this nomination?
-In Brasov, I was active literary
publishing in all existing magazines. When a personality came to my
town, I interviewed him and published it, so I wrote about Florin
Piersic, Madalina Manole, director of museums, director of magazines,
literary cenacles, etc. And so on until that time, I had published a
series of books that I launched in cultural spaces in Brasov, such as
Kron Art, St.O.Iosif Library, Baiulescu House attic, Gheorghe Baritiu
Library, etc. And so on following an interview at Radio Romania
Cultural, I was recommended to publish my doctoral thesis, published
under the auspices of the academician Constantin Ciopraga. I worked at
the Darie Magheru Salon, from Sacele city, Brasov county, where I
supported the romantic chronicles.
- When did you receive the nomination for the Nobel Prize for Literature?
-I received the nomination for the
Nobel Prize in 2014 during the session of the DacoRomanian Academy, and I
presented the book “Mirobolantele Iubiri” which was commented by such
personalities as: Mihai Antonescu, Romanian Union of Writers member; Geo
Calugaru, Romanian Union of Writers member; Lucian Gruia; Vasile
Poienarul, the publisher. The book was also published in the USA, it is
distributed by AMAZON, it can be ordered by entering GOOGLE at Georgeta
Blendea Zamfir.
- Where was the publication of your nomination, in which countries, cities, book fairs, etc.?
– At the London Book Fair in the
impressive Earl Courts building and at the Romanian and English Embassy,
my literary activity was known and my books were exhibited; In London, I
was presented in a cultural space when I produced the book “Ineffabila
feeling”;the material can also be seen on YouTube.
-In Vienna in a wonderful company of
very talented young singers, I was invited to talk about the Dacian
horizon that marks my entire creation.
– In Italy, I had the special honor
of being highly appreciated in my field of activity on the way to the
Nobel Prize, prominent personalities like Paolo Ruzzola and the
Consiglio Regionale Del Piemonte expressed their confidence that I would
be a Nobel Prize laureate and invited me in this position again to be
celebrated. I received the prize offered by Carmelo Amore along with a
stick of precious Italian music, including Toto Cutunio whom I met at
the “Golden Deer” Festival in Brasov. Olimpia Dobre Amore, a world-class
personality who also translated poems for me into Italian for an
anthology, carried out an impressive activity for the success of this
Italian-Romanian meeting in a cultural area. .
- 6. What literary books have you created and what do they have in particular to appreciate?
– My literary work has a
philosophical and psychological foundation, and as noted by the critic,
it is in a space of the Culture of personal development, which has
significant representatives today. I learned that criticism is not
auspicious in any way; from the one criticized, nor the one who
criticizes, is not happy in this position. My books are love books,
according to me love is the generic of humanity and I have dressed it in
metaphors whose composition is the elements offered by Mother Gea, the
goddess of the Earth. The idea of peace shot through all my books like a
red arrow.
- Which publishing houses have you collaborated with?
– I debuted at “Sintezei” Ploiesti
publishing house, most of my books were published by DacoRomanian
publishing house, eLiteratura publishing house, Amanda Edit, Ghepardul,
Dealul Melcilor Brasov publishing house, AMERICAN ACADEMIC PRESS.
- How many books have you translated into other languages and how many literary books have you created so far in total?
-I have 22 published books, since
2014 I send annually to the Nobel Academy, a book translated into
English; the book “Introspections” is translated into French.
- What were the books that earned you the title of “Doctor Honoris
Causa”? What do they have in particular and which attracted the
commission’s attention? When did you get this title and who nominated
you?
– It is about the book “Secret
letters for Dorin”, through this book I introduced a new style in
Romanian literature, the style of the letter in lyrics. The nomination
was made at the Gaudeamus international fair, the commission included
the writers Lucian Gruia, Romanian Union of Writers member; Geo Monk,
Romanian Union of Writers member; Ioana Stuparu, publicist, writer,
author of over 50 books; president of DacoRomanian Academy, Mr. Geo
Stroe.
- What other titles, awards, recognitions have you obtained during your career?
-I received the first prize from the
RTT Brasov television, from the Astra Association, the first prize at
the Iasi Poetry Contest, the DacoRomanian Academy diploma, Thetahealing
diploma, Xidao Gong diploma, Parent of the Homeland diploma, Urban Queen
Leader diploma, Piedmont Region diploma Italy.
- Who helped you translate these books and what documents did you send with them to the Nobel Academy?
– The translation of my books was
done by Horia Cocos and the book “Ineffable” was translated by Patricia
Lidia; The book “Introspections” was translated in collaboration with
Mr. Ovidiu Atanasiu. Each book sent to the Nobel Academy was accompanied
by the documents resulting from the activity of the DacoRomanian
Academy Brasov Branch, of which I am the president, the result of the
cultural activity in Italy was sent by the embelish Mrs. Olimpia Dobre
Amore.
- How long did it take to prepare the file for the nomination for the Nobel Prize?
-Preparation of the file for the
Nobel Prize included intensive work with a staff of 11 people, three of
whom fell ill. Cristi, well trained in IT, had an important role, he had
to pass the articles published in magazines, in emails to send them to
the translator. During the creation period, I participated in many book
launches, cultural events, in order to make myself known. A thrilling
incident was when the publisher of the book “Mirobolant Feelings”
informed me that the manuscript had many mistakes. It was necessary to
enter the manuscript in the printing press; then we decided to correct
the manuscript over the
phone, me being in Brasov and Vasile
Poienarul in Bucharest. I worked non-stop at the pace required for the
publication of the book, whose launch was already announced at the
Calderon Cultural Center, Bucharest. I woke up at 3 in the morning and
worked continuously and the organization of the file was done by Cristi,
who exclaimed: The work of a writer is so hard!
13.Who made the covers and pictures of your books?
– The illustration of my books is
made by the artist Ramona Pintea, my daughter, who recently had an
exhibition in the USA, where she was received by television and the
press. In 2019 she had 4 exhibitions in United Kongdom, created a mural
in London and in the Hall of her workshop in Bucharest, exhibited in
elegant locations in Bucharest, and in Brasov her former colleagues,
from Andrei Saguna high school, organized a exhibition visited by most
plastic artists and in the presence of television. She has a
particularly great training, in the course of personal development,
giving me books that have enriched the horizon of my current concern in
literature. She participated in several television shows and has many
articles in the press; She studied painting in London, focusing more on
the use of color by the great painters of the world, such as Tizian,
Rubens, Raphael, Tin Toretto, Michelangelo. Her paintings have a
colorful, wonderful area and a classic content enriched by a modern
vision and she exudes an optimist and a love of life, stemming from the
way she knows how to look for happiness, her daughter Venice Pintea, is a
student at the University of Cinematography in London and this gives me
hope that my novels will be able to become films. Ramona Pintea has an
affectionate relationship with her brother, Radu Ray Zamfir, an
entrepreneur in London and Tenerife, who recently experienced an
emotional moment. An employee from his company celebrated his wedding in
a lavish location and confessed to my son that it was thanks to him
that he became rich and appreciated. An Englishman who was a drug dealer
became a valuable man in my son’s company. When I worked on the book
“Ineffable” he gave me a secretary with whom I traveled around London
and the surroundings, which he paid for with 2500 pounds.
14.When will the commission for the nomination of the winner of the Nobel Prize for literature meet this year?
– The Nobel Prize for Literature 2023
is an international literary prize established according to the will of
Alfred Nobel, to be announced by the Swedish Academy in Stockholm,
Sweden on 5 October 2023 and awarded on 10 December 2023.
- What is the selection process of the winner of the Nobel prize for literature?
-The process involved in choosing Nobel Prize laureates for literature is as follows:
- September
– invitation letters are sent. The Nobel Committee sends nomination
forms to hundreds of individuals and organizations qualified to nominate
for the Nobel Prize in Literature.
- February
– Submission deadline. Completed forms must reach the Nobel Committee
by January 31 of the following year. The Committee then reviews the
nominations and submits a list for approval by the Academy.
- April
– Preliminaries. After further study, the Committee selects 15-20 names
for consideration as preliminary candidates by the Academy.
- May – Final Candidates. The committee narrows the list to five priority candidates to be considered by the Academy.
- June-August
– Reading of productions. Academy members read and evaluate the
finalists’ work over the summer. The Nobel Committee also prepares
individual reports.
- September
– Academy members confer. After reading the papers of the final
candidates, the members of the Academy discuss the merits of the
contribution of the various candidates.
- October
– the Nobel Prize laureates are chosen. At the beginning of October,
the Academy chooses the winner of the Nobel Prize for literature. A
candidate must receive more than half of the votes cast. The names of
the Nobel Prize laureates are then announced.
- What do you know about the work of the Nobel Academy in Stockholm?
-The Swedish Academy or Svenska
Akademien, founded in 1786 by King Gustav III, is one of Sweden’s royal
academies. Since 1901, the Academy has decided each year who should be
the winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature, awarded in memory of
founder Alfred Nobel. In March 2015, the Academy formalized the neuter
pronoun hen, which is added to the masculine and feminine pronouns. On
2nd May 2018, King Carl XVI Gustaf changed the rules of the Academy and
allowed members to resign. The new rules also state that a member who
has been inactive in the academy for more than two years may be asked to
resign.
– Nominations for the Nobel Prize for
Literature can only be made by qualified persons. The names of the
nominees and other information about the nominations cannot be revealed
until 50 years later. Eligible candidates for the literature prize are
those nominated by qualified persons who have received an invitation
from the Nobel Committee to submit names for consideration. Other
individuals who are qualified to nominate but have not received
invitations may also submit nominations. No one can nominate himself.
- How many Romanian personalities have received the Nobel Prize for literature so far?
-The prestigious Nobel Prize for
Literature was obtained only by Herta Müller, 2009 from Romania,
although there was a great writer and philosopher like Lucian Blaga, but
who, not being known by the communists, was not promoted. Similarly,
Liviu Rebreanu, who represents Romanian literature worldwide, did not
enter this valuable area.
- What special characteristics can your creations have in order to
be nominated as the winner of the Nobel Prize for literature this
year?
– My books have love as a center but
the symbols abound as in a painting by Botticelli, I am fascinated by
the products of mother Geea, the goddess of the Earth and for the first
time my mother, who opened my eyes to the beauties of nature, especially
from Teliu, the locality of my birthplace.
The name Teliu comes from the word
hill and I learned in the comparative linguistics courses the evolution
of words, by palatalizing the labials “d” became “t”, to narrow the
diphthong “ea” and thus the name of my beautiful town between the hills
was born.
- If you win the Nobel Prize for literature this year, do you know
how the awarding ceremony will take place? Who will give it to you
officially?
– December – Nobel Prize laureates
receive their prize. The Nobel Prize award ceremony takes place at the
Stockholm Concert Hall, Sweden, on 10 December – the anniversary of
Alfred Nobel’s death., where Nobel laureates receive their Nobel Prize,
which consists of a Nobel Prize medal and diploma and a document
confirming the value of the prize.
Their Majesties the King and Queen
and other members of the Royal Family of Sweden are guests of honour at
both the award ceremony and the banquet. Representatives of the Swedish
Government and Parliament also participate. International guests enjoy
priority, especially those who represent the sciences and cultural life.
Swedish guests are people who participate in Nobel Prize-related
functions in one capacity or another, aid the sciences through donations
or otherwise support the Nobel Foundation and the prize awarding.
- In conclusion, I have a slightly indiscreet question: if you
will be the winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2023, what will
you do with the money obtained from the prize?
– I have a dream to travel all over
the world to make the Svenska Akademiens Nobelkommite committee known
and thus to express my gratitude that the DacoRomanian Academy was
noticed by this wonderful forum. I still have a desire to build a rest
house for artists from all over the world in a clearing of personal
property in a wonderful fir forest.
Prof. Eng. Olimpia Dobre Amore
EU project manager, member of the European Register
of Project Managers Amsterdam, Holland, of the Italian Institute of
Project Managers Rome, Italy, accredited to the European Commission for
Youth.
12.08.2023