Bulgarian Literature

National Revival to Modern Era

Father Paisi’s Legacy and National Revival

Father Paisi’s influential work, handwritten due to the absence of printing presses, sparked the Bulgarian national revival. Poet Dimiter Popslti celebrated the leader Sofroni Vrachanski in 1813. Naiden Gerov (1823-1867) wrote the first Bulgarian poem, “Stoyan and Rada” (1845). Notable figures include Georgi Kakovski, Petko Slaveikov, and Dobri Chintulov. Christo Botev (1848-1876), a leading poet, fought against the Turks, while novelist Lyuben Karavelov (1835-1879) gained fame for “Bulgarians of Old Times.” Ivan Vazov (1850-1921) earned the title of the Patriarch of Bulgarian literature with “Under the Yoke,” portraying life during Turkish rule.

Post-Liberation Era and Narodnitsi Movement

After Liberation, influenced by German literature, aesthetic individualism emerged, led by critic Dr. Krustiu Krustev and poets Pencho Slaveikov and Kiril Christov. Writers focused on national unification, reflecting melancholy and despair. Symbolism appeared in works by Teodor Traianov, P. K. Yavorov, Dimcho Debelianov, and Nikolai Liliev Private Istanbul Tour.

Modern Bulgarian Writers

Addressing everyday life, modern Bulgarian writers continue the narodnitsi tradition. Notable figures include Iordan Iovkov, Elin Pelin, Konstantin Petkanov, and Angel Karaliichev, exploring diverse facets of contemporary existence.