Dimcho Debelyanov
Encyclopedia
Dimcho Debelyanov (28 March 1887 - 2 October 1916) was a Bulgaria
n poet and author whose death in the First World War cut off his promising literary career. Born to a prosperous family in Koprivshtitsa
, Bulgaria
, he experienced hardship upon the death of his father in 1896, which necessitated the family moving to Plovdiv
, and then onto Sofia
in 1904. Debelyanov always spoke of the eight years in Plovdiv with regret, calling it "the sorrowful city".
In 1906, he began to send poetry to Bulgarian literary magazines at the urging of Pencho Slaveikov, where he saw his first printed works, which were well received. He moved from job to job during the next six years, unable to settle and seeing employment as a junior clerk for the central meteorological station and as a freelance journalist, before joining the army in 1912 to fight in the Balkan Wars
. In 1914 he was discharged from the army and took up a post in an office, a position he hated so much, that he rejoined the army in 1916, but was killed near Dolno
and Gorno Karadjovo during a battle with an Irish division. His body was buried in Valovishta, today Sidirokastro, Greece
. His mortal remains were carried in his native town Koprivshtitsa in 1931.
His body of work was collected by friends following his death and published in a two volume anthology with a collection of letters and personal writings. These became very popular in post-war Bulgaria, critics commenting that they reflect the poet remarkably well, being in a Symbolist style and thus unable to settle on a theme, focusing most closely on the presence of death and despair, creating a "gloomy melancholy" effect.
on Robert Island, South Shetland Islands
is named after Dimcho Debelyanov.
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
n poet and author whose death in the First World War cut off his promising literary career. Born to a prosperous family in Koprivshtitsa
Koprivshtitsa
Koprivshtitsa is a historic town in Sofia Province, central Bulgaria, lying on the Topolnitsa River among the Sredna Gora mountains. It was one of the centres of the April Uprising in 1876 and is known for its authentic Bulgarian architecture and for its folk music festivals, making it a very...
, Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
, he experienced hardship upon the death of his father in 1896, which necessitated the family moving to Plovdiv
Plovdiv
Plovdiv is the second-largest city in Bulgaria after Sofia with a population of 338,153 inhabitants according to Census 2011. Plovdiv's history spans some 6,000 years, with traces of a Neolithic settlement dating to roughly 4000 BC; it is one of the oldest cities in Europe...
, and then onto Sofia
Sofia
Sofia is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria and the 12th largest city in the European Union with a population of 1.27 million people. It is located in western Bulgaria, at the foot of Mount Vitosha and approximately at the centre of the Balkan Peninsula.Prehistoric settlements were excavated...
in 1904. Debelyanov always spoke of the eight years in Plovdiv with regret, calling it "the sorrowful city".
In 1906, he began to send poetry to Bulgarian literary magazines at the urging of Pencho Slaveikov, where he saw his first printed works, which were well received. He moved from job to job during the next six years, unable to settle and seeing employment as a junior clerk for the central meteorological station and as a freelance journalist, before joining the army in 1912 to fight in the Balkan Wars
Balkan Wars
The Balkan Wars were two conflicts that took place in the Balkans in south-eastern Europe in 1912 and 1913.By the early 20th century, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Greece and Serbia, the countries of the Balkan League, had achieved their independence from the Ottoman Empire, but large parts of their ethnic...
. In 1914 he was discharged from the army and took up a post in an office, a position he hated so much, that he rejoined the army in 1916, but was killed near Dolno
Dolno
Dolno is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Trzebielino, within Bytów County, Pomeranian Voivodeship, in northern Poland. It lies approximately west of Trzebielino, west of Bytów, and west of the regional capital Gdańsk....
and Gorno Karadjovo during a battle with an Irish division. His body was buried in Valovishta, today Sidirokastro, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. His mortal remains were carried in his native town Koprivshtitsa in 1931.
His body of work was collected by friends following his death and published in a two volume anthology with a collection of letters and personal writings. These became very popular in post-war Bulgaria, critics commenting that they reflect the poet remarkably well, being in a Symbolist style and thus unable to settle on a theme, focusing most closely on the presence of death and despair, creating a "gloomy melancholy" effect.
Honour
Debelyanov PointDebelyanov Point
Debelyanov Point is a point forming the northwest side of the entrance to Mitchell Cove in Robert Island, South Shetland Islands. Situated 2.8 km northwest of Negra Point and 3.81 km southeast of Fort William Point. Bulgarian early mapping in 2008. Named after the Bulgarian poet...
on Robert Island, South Shetland Islands
South Shetland Islands
The South Shetland Islands are a group of Antarctic islands, lying about north of the Antarctic Peninsula, with a total area of . By the Antarctic Treaty of 1959, the Islands' sovereignty is neither recognized nor disputed by the signatories and they are free for use by any signatory for...
is named after Dimcho Debelyanov.