On World Book Day, a discussion titled “The Slovenian Novel in the Slavic Context” took place as part of the Slovenian Book Days programme, organized by the Slovenian Writers’ Association. The event was dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the 100 Slavic Novels series.

The event featured Andreja Rihter, Director of FSK, and writer Jani Virk, whose novel The Last Temptation of Sergij is included in the 100 Slavic Novels series and was also translated into English as part of the SLAWA project.

Andreja Rihter highlighted the beginnings of the collection and its development over two decades. Marking the milestone of one hundred published books, she also presented future plans focused on the project’s continued growth and increasing international recognition. She especially emphasized the translators, whose work has been crucial to the success of this important project.

Jani Virk spoke about his perspective on the importance of the series and the translation of Slovenian literary fiction. He pointed out the current situation in which translation and success in foreign markets are not always determined by quality alone, but are often influenced by commercial success and “fashion trends.” The discussion also touched on his novel The Last Temptation of Sergij and the circumstances surrounding its creation.

The discussion was moderated by Sara Špelec, a translator and former coordinator of the 100 Slavic Novels series, who guided the conversation toward reflections on literary trends, translation, and dialogue among Slavic literatures. The event offered an in-depth insight into the role of the Slovenian novel within the broader regional and international context.