Famous Moldovan writer marks birthday

Chisinau, 14 June /MOLDPRES/ - A well-known writer for children, prose writer, poet, translator and editor, laureate of the State Prize and holder of the Order of the Republic Spiridon Vangheli marks his 86th birthday anniversary today.   

In an interview given to a MOLDPRES reporter, writer Spiridon Vangheli said that the world of childhood was a special one. “Guguta is my second son. I also wrote a book about girls – Craita (The Queen). On this occasion, I thank academician Mihai Cimpoi, who preferred this book. I have to write another two books. A child wrote me: “You have turned small in order to make us adults.” I say that we should get to the level of our children,” Spiridon Vangheli said.    

According to academician Mihai Cimpoi, Spiridon Vangheli is a writer and educator of national value. “By all he has done – through books, through manuals, by his meetings with readers – he proved that only the child can make the life nicer and holier,” Mihai Cimpoi noted.  

Spiridon Vangheli was born in the Grinauti village, Balti county, presently Rascani district, on 14 June 1932. After the graduation of the Ion Creanga State Pedagogical Institution from Chisinau (currently State Pedagogical University),  Vangheli worked as a school teacher, then editor at the publishing houses Cartea Moldoveneasca and Lumina.  

Spiridon Vangheli started his activity as writer in 1962 with a booklet titled „În ţara fluturilor” (In the Country of Butterflies), followed by more volumes. His hero, Guguta, is liked both by children and adults. Vangheli’s books”Isprăvile lui Guguță” (The Adventures of Guguta) and „Steaua lui Ciuboţel” (The Star of Ciubotel) were translated in dozens of languages, among which: English, French, German, Czech, Slovakian, Japanese, Chinese, Armenian, Finnish, Hindi, being published in millions of copies.  

Spiridon Vangheli translated from the universal poetry for children from such authors as James Barrie, Astrid Lindgren. He is one of the co-authors of the ABC-book (1970, 1990). In 2006, Vangheli carried out a large-scale project titled ”Carte de citire și gândire” (Reading and Thinking Book) in four volumes for pupils of the I-IV forms.   

Spiridon Vangheli was awarded the Andersen International Honour Diploma, Order of the Republic, Mihai Eminescu medal, State Prize of the Moldovan Soviet Socialist Republic, Ion Creanga Prize of the Romanian Academy. He also has the title of arts master and people’s writer.    

(Reporter N. Roibu, editor A. Raileanu)