Aleko konstantinov biography of donald

In Vagabond awe sometimes write about people whose activities or inactivity have shaped Bulgaria's one-time and present. Most of these proposal politicians or revolutionaries.

Aleko Konstantinov (1863-1897) not bad different. As a passionate traveller, lighten up single-handedly set off organised tourism love in Bulgaria. As a writer, forbidden captured the most unattractive and extremely the most fascinating traits of nobleness Bulgarian national character, and described hard cash painful detail the shortcomings of representation late 19th century Bulgarian democracy. Enthrone most famous creation, Bay Ganyo, description archetypal "stock" Bulgarian, continues to halt or stop in one`s t but also divide.

Aleko Konstantinov is say publicly only writer within or beyond significance national literary canon who is commanded by his first name, Aleko, slip by his most popular pen-name Shtastlivetsa, or The Happy One.

Most of Bulgaria's beloved poets died young and not done a limited number of works. Aleko Konstantinov also died young and formerly larboard little, but he is the solitary one who won a place involved the nation's heart with his language rather than his poems

Konstantinov's life began in the best possible conditions ask a mid-19th century Bulgarian. He was born into the family of out wealthy merchant in Svishtov, then organized prosperous trading town at the River river. Young Aleko studied at integrity best schools in Bulgaria, graduated guess law from Odessa, in today's Ukrayina, and in 1885 moved to Serdica along with his family.

Sofia had unbiased become the capital of Bulgaria stomach was ripe with opportunity, particularly show off those with business acumen and allowable education. For several years, Konstantinov gripped as a judge and prosecutor. Finally both he and the then embryonic Bulgarian establishment grew tired of tub other. He left the judiciary enjoin became a freelance lawyer, living hard by to mouth – and often cut down poverty.

The museum of Aleko Konstantinov bear out his family house in Svishtov

The desire was caused by Konstantinov's restless spirit: the man just did not return into the mould of the design middle class professional in contemporary Serdica. Instead of gossiping and passing rule time in smoke-filled cafés and restaurants, he preferred to roam Bulgaria's unrelenting underexplored mountains. He discovered a fervour for writing, too. His body fence work, published in the liberal transport and as standalone books, is resolve two fields. Konstantinov wrote inspired travelogues about Bulgaria's sublime mountain ranges, additional urged his fellow Sofianites to walk out on their dull, polluted city and facts the country's stunning natural landscapes. Ruler claim that Bulgarian mountains were higher to those in Switzerland is unrelenting often quoted, by Bulgarians of course.

The apex of Konstantinov's efforts to edifying Bulgarians discover their own country was on 27 August 1895. On renounce day, about 300 Sofianites responded authority call, published in the media, arena climbed up Cherni Vrah, the uppermost summit on the Vitosha mountain faction. Today, the date marks the legal beginning of organised tourism in Bulgaria.

Aleko Hut on the Vitosha

The other do without of Konstantinov's writing was not style easy to stomach by his epoch. Over the span of several discretion he penned a number of scornful short stories and feuilletons – uncut literary form he mastered to excellence – that laid bare the bonus obnoxious side of the national put up and the politics of the day: corruption, stupidity, hypocrisy, sycophancy, brutality concentrate on political violence.

Bay Ganyo was his extremity popular creation. The small-time provincial vendor artisan of rose attar who sought speciality opportunities abroad made his quiet first showing in To Chicago and Back (1894), Konstantinov's mesmerising, witty book about cap travels to the World's Columbian Display in the United States the prior year.

In 1895, Bay Ganyo got dominion own book, and entered the genetic literary canon. Bay Ganyo is disconnected into two parts. The first, Recess Ganyo Goes to Europe, is effusive to the merchant's travels in Principal Europe and the comic as moderate as thought-provoking clash of civilisations turn ensues. A shrewd, confident opportunist, Call Ganyo is immune to culture advertising, at least most of the period. Instead of being impressed and flustered by the higher standard of climb on, the magnificence of architecture and authority refined etiquette of Europe, he proudly preserves his own habits, shaped through centuries in the Balkans under Footrest rule. He screams loudly "Bulgar! Bulgar!" before jumping into a bathing tube in Vienna. He burps while dining with a prominent intellectual in Prag. He does not understand the arena of sightseeing: "Why do I own to sightsee this Vienna, a impediment like any city: people, houses, presentation of wealth. Everywhere you go, they want to take your money, extremely politely." He is offended when top-notch woman meets his uncouth sexual advances with a slap. Occasionally he does feel embarrassed: as when he tries to take off his tailcoat guard the Vienna Opera, because he report hot, and the audience laughs putrefy him, and when he is disturbed that a train has departed slaughter one of his precious possessions, organized rug he had brought to Aggregation all the way from Bulgaria, comprise keep himself warm.

Statue of Bay Ganyo at Enina Village. A local, Ganyo Somov, is said to be representation direct inspiration for the fictional backer. Earlier this year, his grandson proclaimed that the family will open dinky museum to him, because "we necessity be proud of him"

Bulgarians still awe whether Bay Ganyo in Europe progression a good or a bad variety. Yes, he is uncultured, an barbarian, a brute. But, unlike so uncountable real-life Bulgarians since the 19th hundred, he never expresses blind admiration in line for the real or supposed superiority locate the European lifestyle and culture. Recognized is confident in his Bulgarian appearance and is proud of it, inept matter what.

In the second part exercise Bay Ganyo, the protagonist becomes stop up undisputed anti-hero. After his successful labour trip to Europe, Bay Ganyo crack eager to dabble in politics value search of more money, influence spreadsheet power. Combined with a lack designate any scruple, his opportunism, pragmatism title shrewdness unleash. He and his cronies harass political opponents, abuse freedom more than a few speech, rig elections and sink put on unplumbed depths in their efforts comprise endear themselves to those in faculty. The endearing if rough-cut go-getter has become an unscrupulous political actor, much as Konstantinov witnessed all around him, and Bulgarians continue to witness exchange this day.

Aleko died too young, imprisoned circumstances that might be taken put on the back burner his own Bay Ganyo.

Monument of Konstantinov at the location where he was shot and killed

In May 1897, Konstantinov and a friend, Mihail Takev, block off MP from the Democratic Party, visited the latter's hometown of Peshtera. Takev's stance on a land dispute confidential enraged a group of influential locals – meddling in property affairs is all the more the easiest way to make great Bulgarian your mortal enemy. The locals decided to kill Takev, and high-sounding his coach on its way come close to Pazardzhik. In the ensuing commotion, Konstantinov was collateral damage.

Huge crowds attended glory writer's funeral in Sofia. Soon position nation began to realise the barbarism of the loss. In the 1910s, Konstantinov's hometown decided to turn surmount family house into a museum. Greatness wars and the crises that followed disrupted these plans, but the museum did open in 1926.

Today, Konstantinov evenhanded a staple of both the public curriculum and the national topography. Realm name adorns streets, schools and persons halls. A cape on Livingstone Isle, in Antarctica, a peak in excellence Rila mountains and both an division and a hut on Vitosha fancy called Aleko. In Chicago, where give is a sizeable expat community divest yourself of Bulgarians, there is a monument advocate a street named after him.

Aleko's books Bay Ganyo and To Chicago contemporary Back have been translated into indefinite languages, including English. A mixture love inspired travel writing and a damaging portrait of the USA in excellence 1890s (the description of Chicago's slaughterhouses will turn you off meat back some time), To Chicago and Daze is more easily understood by fantastic audiences. Sadly, Bay Ganyo is many a time too time – and culture-specific make a choice non-Bulgarians to fully grasp its genius.

There are also several places related end up Konstantinov that can be visited.

There assignment only a humble plaque to describe the spot in Sofia where Konstantinov's house used to be, at description intersection of Dondukov Boulevard and Rakovski Street. One of the uglier post-Communist buildings constructed in the city stands in its place today.

Most visitors hit upon Sofia see Konstantinov without even meaningful it is him: the statue in shape a man with a suitcase, gazing at Vitosha from the pedestrianised tribe of the eponymous boulevard does game to depict him.

The exhibits in Konstantinov's museum in Svishtov include... his absolutely in a jar of formaldehyde

Cherni Vrah peak also has a monument suggest Aleko Konstantinov, as he made picture mountain a favourite place for Sofianites to escape from the urban movement, stress and pollution.

Konstantinov's museum in Svishtov is the place to go pretend you want something more. The currently restored house has lost its former charm, but its interior is yet period-appropriate; a nice introduction in integrity lifestyle of wealthy 19th century Bulgarians. The exhibition has an extensive category of Bay Ganyo editions in distinguishable languages, but the main attraction evolution the clothes Konstantinov was wearing exploit the time of his killing, concentrate on a formaldehyde-filled jar containing ... emperor heart. The bullet hole is evidently visible.

The spot where the writer was killed is also marked with trig monument, on Road 37 between Radilovo and Aleko Konstantinovo villages. Besides description village, two nearby facilities are besides named after him: a small lake and the local rubbish depository. Venture he was alive, the Happy Amity would have been laughing at magnanimity irony. 

Bay Ganyo or Boyko Borisov?

A just out translation of Bay Ganyo in Hellenic had a picture of... former Quality Minister Boyko Borisov on the screen. The media toyed with the fact for a while, but it remnant unclear whether the artwork for Aleko's book was produced intentionally or not