Bread and Wine (Leb I Vino)

Book excerpt: The title of Bread and Wine (Leb I Vino) derives from the old Bulgarian custom of hospitality to strangers; it is considered a great discourtesy if visitors to Bulgarian homes are not offered food and drink, and an even greater discourtesy if this offer is then turned down. “It was a lesson I quickly learned,” says Trefor, “and one that afforded me much pleasure, inspiration, and – I might add – several king-size hangovers!”Fans of short stories and Magical Realist fiction will enjoy this collection of stories, which range from those inspired by the dark and bloody history of the 500-year-long Ottoman occupation, the folk-lore and onto those reflecting modern-day Bulgarian life; an eclectic mix from bawdy comedy to psychological bleakness.