Booker Prize Nominee Writes of Albanian Sworn Virgins

Bulgarian author Irena Ivanova, writing as Karabash, is nominated for the International Booker Prize for her novel She Who Remains, set in rural Albania. The book centers on the centuries-old tradition of “sworn virgins”—women who vowed chastity and lived as men—a practice rooted in the medieval Albanian law code, the Kanun of Leke Dukagjini. Karabash drew inspiration from a photobook by Bulgarian photographer Pepa Hristova, which documented surviving members of this fading tradition.

The novel, originally published in Bulgaria in 2018, gained wider attention after translation by Izidora Angel. It has since been translated into over 25 languages, winning the French PEN Award and securing upcoming publications in multiple countries, including an Albanian-language edition. A film adaptation is in post-production, co-produced by Albania and Romania.

Karabash notes the book initially had limited success in Bulgaria, possibly due to its fragmented narrative style. She also observes a growing trend of Balkan artists exploring regional themes, suggesting a collective processing of past trauma and a desire to connect with neighboring cultures. The work continues as she recently released a new book of poetry.