A winner of the National Book Award was announced on May 31. A founder of the award Nigar Kocharli announced the jury’s final review.
The first place was taken by Elkan Garagan “A” (novel), the second place Ajdar Ol “Portrait Stories”, the third place was won by Samit Aliyev “Seven Steps Towards the Sunset” (novella, in Russian) and Fakhri Ugurlu “Collected Stories”. Here are the works competed for the first place:
1. Sharif Agayar: “The Brick-Moulder’s Tale” (novel)
2. Alabbas Bagirov: “The Rebel” (novel)
3. Nariman Abdulrahmanli: “Alone” (novel)
4. Samid Aliyev: “Seven Steps Towards the Sunset” (novella, in Russian)
5. Eyvaz Allazoglu: “The Woodcutter Returns” (novel)
6. Elkhan Qaraqan: “A” (novel)
7. Kamran Nazirli: Collected Stories
8. Ajdar Ol: Portrait Stories
9. Rafig Tagi: Collected Stories
10. Fakhri Ugurlu: Collected Stories
The first place winner was awarded AZN 3000, the second AZN 2000 and the third place winner AZN 1000.
The Ministry of Youth and Sport presented its special prize (AZN 1000) to Aliabbas Bagirov. Besides it, “1news.az” gave its special award (AZN 1000) to Eyvaz Allazoglu. Note that the winners were selected from the presented short list of candidates consisting of 10 persons. The works included in the Top 10 of the National Book Award were published as books. These books will be distributed to the libraries free of charge. The National book Award was organized with the support of the Ministries of Culture and Tourism and Youth and Sport.