Mateja Matevski

poet, literary and theatre critic, essayist, translator. Born 13th March 1929 in Istanbul. Graduated from the Faculty of Philology in Skopje. Worked as a journalist for the Macedonian Radio and Television, editor of the cultural and literary programme, editor-in-chief and director of the Television as well as Director General of the Radio Television Skopje. He also held the function of President of the Commission for cultural relations abroad and was a member of the Presidency of SR Macedonia. Was an editor for the publishing house “Koco Racin”. Professor of History of World Drama and a professor at the Faculty of Dramatic Arts in Skopje. Was editor of the literary journals “Mlada literatura” and “Razgledi”. One-time president of the Macedonian Writers’ Association, president of the Council of the Struga Poetry Evenings Festival, “Racinovi sredbi” and Macedonian Literary Foundation. Member of the Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts, and honorary vice-president of the Macedonian P.E.N. Centre. Member of the Macedonian Writers’ Association since 1956. Corresponding member of the North-American Academy in the Spanish language.
Works: Rains (poetry, 1956), The equinox (poetry, 1963), Irises (poetry, 1976), The circle (poetry, 1977), Lime tree (poetry, 1980), The birth of tragedy (poetry, 1985), From tradition to the future (criticism and essays, 1987), Drama and theatre (theatre criticism and essays, 1987), Moving away (poetry, 1990), Black tower (poetry, 1992), Carry away (poetry, 1996), The light of the word (criticism and essays), The dead one (poetry, 1999), Inner area (poetry, 2000).
Awards include: Macedonian Writers’ Association Award, “Miladinov Brothers”, “11th October”, “Grigor Prlicev”, “Koco Racin”, “Book of the year” – Macedonian literary foundation, “Praznik na lipite”, “Kliment Ohridski”, The great award “Makedonsko slovo”, “Kiril Pejcinovic”, “Goranov Venec” (Lukovdol, Croatia), “Blez Sandrar” (Iverdon, Switzerland), “Premio Mediterraneo “ – special award (Palermo, Italy), “Fernando Rielo” – world award for mystical poetry – for the book “The black tower” (Madrid, Spain), “Zupanciceva listina” – Slovenian Writers’ Association (Ljubljana, Slovenia), “Atlantida” (Las Palmas, Spain). Holder of the French Legion of Honour, Arts and Literature.
Thirty books of his poetry have been published in twenty foreign languages. He has published over fourty books of translations from Spanish, French, Slovenian, Russian, Albanian and Serbian.