Canary Wharf building The Collective has become vibrant art stage for the provocative Bulgarian writer Iliyan Kuzmanov. He presented his new book, The Devil I Know, while the event was also a fundraiser for immigrant children from Afghanistan based in an immigration camp in Bulgaria. The writer had made the public more relaxed and willing to donate by organising a Bulgarian wine tasting. Iliyan Kuzmanov got his name with the ground-breaking social business initiatives that advocated for fight against corruption and human trafficking in Bulgaria. Also was fighting for gender equality, social justice and change of the Bulgarian prison system.
Iliyan is a Bulgarian activist writer, journalist, Union Officer, public figure, and social entrepreneur. Coming from Bulgarian noble family, with degrees in Law from Bulgaria, and History, and Economics from Canada, he is the Founder of the multi-million business The Help in UK, the award-winning social venture Ezo in London, and game changing Foundation Art Angel in Bulgaria. He gained international fame with If You Meet Buddha Kill Him!, the first book by a Bulgarian author to enter Amazon’s Top 20s best-selling books. Winner of the Titans Book Prize (US), finalist in Readers Favourite (US), one of the Top 10 Writers with Greater Potential for 2022 by Art Daily, The Sexiest Writer Alive for 2021 by the cult Film Daily, 2021 Man of the Year in Bulgaria according TV Evropa-Career TV (Euronews Bulgaria now) and the hipster writer who did the unique road Balkans Book Rock Tour 2021 in 5 countries. The person, according to the Latino media La Nacion, that is doomed to change the world. Satanic verses and work that led to his exile in London, UK.
The Devil, I Know Him is a provocative and intelligent exploration of the concepts of the Free Man, Absolutism and the Devil. It’s a brutally honest masterpiece that looks deep into the heart of fantasy and longing. In an intelligent, raw, and often sarcastic manner, Iliyan Kuzmanov chronicles the Devil. A remarkable journey from ancient Syria to worldwide notoriety today. Cruel modern classic about humanism, doomed love, passion, faith, God, law, wisdom, and redemption. Contemporary high adrenaline interpretation of the works of the likes of Dante, Milton, Goethe, and Bulgakov. Anti-totalitarian apocrypha, a freeman’s confession, a self-made man’s gospel. A rage, rebellion in the name of a Love, a far cry for freedom that can shake lawless empires and godless tyrants. A lonely voyage of the will, the endless power of the human spirit, the immortal soul through cycles of metamorphoses, dreams, and revelations. Iliyan’s irony is disarming, allowing brilliantly to expose all that is absurd and paradoxical in the totalitarian societies. The Devil, I Know Him is the Eastern European answer to the rising dark autocratic systems inspired by the Miguel de Cervantes’ classic novel Don Quixote. Magical realism that will thrill your emotions and perceptions. And in the meantime, with comprehensive knowledge and entrancing storytelling skills, Iliyan discovers the notions of the Devil and Free Man with a palette of narratives, through different arts, cultures, and historical periods. Provoking thoughts on freedom, feudalism, fascism, control, power, belief and tolerance.
