George Papantchev was born in 1942 in the small Bulgarian town of Malko Tarnovo to Elena and Dimitar. He was soon joined by his sister, Svetlana. From an early age, his life was shaped by a deep love of books and learning. An insatiable reader, George read his way through every volume in his local library. This passion stayed with him all his life and he gradually amassed a vast collection of books, delighting in the hunt through antiquarian and second-hand bookshops, much like a collector seeking hidden treasures.

​

He studied at the University of Sofia, where his passion for language and literature became his calling. His academic journey later took him to the University of Cambridge, where he was awarded his doctorate in 1976. Teaching was always central to George’s life. One of his first teaching posts was in Veliko Tarnovo, before he moved to Sofia in the 1960s, where he became a lecturer in Modern British and American Literature at the University of Sofia. Alongside teaching, he developed a distinguished career as a translator, bringing works such as Sherlock Holmes: A Study in Scarlet and the television series I, Claudius to Bulgarian audiences.

​

Soon after moving to Sofia, George met Valia, and the two were married in 1970. Their small and secret wedding marked the beginning of a long and deeply happy marriage. In time, their family grew with the arrival of their two children. George and Valia were each other’s closest companions and best friends, still in love until the very end.

​

In the 1980s, George and his family made a new home in the United Kingdom. There, he continued to share his knowledge and love of language as a visiting lecturer at UCL’s School of Slavonic and East European Studies (SSEES) and at the University of Oxford. He was deeply respected by colleagues and students alike, not only for his scholarship, but for his generosity, patience and good humour.

​

In the 1990s, George authored Colloquial Bulgarian. The book remains in print and is still sold around the world. Alongside this work, he remained active as a translator and interpreter until his retirement.

​

Despite living with a long-term terminal illness, George remained his good-humoured, optimistic self until the end. Never one to complain and always infectiously positive, he will be remembered as a devoted family man, a lifelong teacher and a gentle, thoughtful presence in the lives of those who knew him. His legacy lives on in his family and friends, his students, and the many people whose lives were enriched by his work and his kindness.