Valeri Petrov
Encyclopedia
Valeri Petrov pseudonym
of Valeri Nisim Mevorah (Валери Нисим Меворах) (born 22 April 1920) is a popular Bulgaria
n poet, screenplay writer, playwright and translator of paternal Jewish origin.
Born in the capital Sofia
to lawyer Nisim Mevorah (and Bulgarian ambassador to the USA in 1945 - 47 and representative to the UN) and high-school French
teacher Mariya Petrova, Valeri Petrov studied at the Italian
School in the city, finishing in 1939. He graduated in medicine from Sofia University
in 1944.
When he was 15, Valeri Petrov published his first independent book: the poem Ptitsi kam sever ("Birds Northwards"). In this and subsequent publications he used his non-Jewish mother's surname or other pseudonyms because of the pro-Nazi regime in Bulgaria at the time. He later wrote the poems Palechko ("Tom Thumb
"), Na pat ("En route"), Juvenes dum sumus, Kray sinyoto more ("By the Blue Sea"), Tavanski spomen (A Reminiscence from an Attic) and the series Nezhnosti ("Endearments"). Valeri Petrov is particularly esteemed for the quality of his translation of the entire works of Shakespeare - the authoritative rendition of the Bard in Bulgarian.
In the autumn and winter of 1944, when Bulgaria switched sides and joined the Allies
in the Second World War, Valeri Petrov worked first at Radio Sofia and then as a wartime writer with the newspaper Frontovak ("Front Fighter"). Following the war, he was among the founders of the humoristic newspaper Starshel ("The Hornet
") and its assistant editor-in-chief (1945–1962). He served as a doctor in a military hospital and in the Rila Monastery
.
Between 1947 and 1950 Valeri Petrov worked in the Bulgarian legation in Rome
as a press and cultural attache. During the time he travelled to the United States
, Switzerland
and France
, delegating to various forums.
He has also been an editor in a film studio and in the Balgarski pisatel publishing house. He served as a deputy in the Grand National Assembly
. Since 2003, he is an academician of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
. Politically, he has been a leftist and a socialist ever since his school-time in the Third Bulgarian Kingdom, through the Communist period and up to the present day.
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
of Valeri Nisim Mevorah (Валери Нисим Меворах) (born 22 April 1920) is a popular 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...
n poet, screenplay writer, playwright and translator of paternal Jewish origin.
Born in the capital 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...
to lawyer Nisim Mevorah (and Bulgarian ambassador to the USA in 1945 - 47 and representative to the UN) and high-school French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
teacher Mariya Petrova, Valeri Petrov studied at the Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
School in the city, finishing in 1939. He graduated in medicine from Sofia University
Sofia University
The St. Clement of Ohrid University of Sofia or Sofia University is the oldest higher education institution in Bulgaria, founded on 1 October 1888...
in 1944.
When he was 15, Valeri Petrov published his first independent book: the poem Ptitsi kam sever ("Birds Northwards"). In this and subsequent publications he used his non-Jewish mother's surname or other pseudonyms because of the pro-Nazi regime in Bulgaria at the time. He later wrote the poems Palechko ("Tom Thumb
Tom Thumb
Tom Thumb is a character of English folklore. The History of Tom Thumb was published in 1621, and has the distinction of being the first fairy tale printed in English. Tom is no bigger than his father's thumb, and his adventures include being swallowed by a cow, tangling with giants, and becoming a...
"), Na pat ("En route"), Juvenes dum sumus, Kray sinyoto more ("By the Blue Sea"), Tavanski spomen (A Reminiscence from an Attic) and the series Nezhnosti ("Endearments"). Valeri Petrov is particularly esteemed for the quality of his translation of the entire works of Shakespeare - the authoritative rendition of the Bard in Bulgarian.
In the autumn and winter of 1944, when Bulgaria switched sides and joined the Allies
Allies
In everyday English usage, allies are people, groups, or nations that have joined together in an association for mutual benefit or to achieve some common purpose, whether or not explicit agreement has been worked out between them...
in the Second World War, Valeri Petrov worked first at Radio Sofia and then as a wartime writer with the newspaper Frontovak ("Front Fighter"). Following the war, he was among the founders of the humoristic newspaper Starshel ("The Hornet
Hornet
Hornets are the largest eusocial wasps; some species can reach up to in length. The true hornets make up the genus Vespa and are distinguished from other vespines by the width of the vertex , which is proportionally larger in Vespa and by the anteriorly rounded gasters .- Life cycle :In...
") and its assistant editor-in-chief (1945–1962). He served as a doctor in a military hospital and in the Rila Monastery
Rila Monastery
The Monastery of Saint Ivan of Rila, better known as the Rila Monastery is the largest and most famous Eastern Orthodox monastery in Bulgaria. It is situated in the southwestern Rila Mountains, south of the capital Sofia in the deep valley of the Rilska River at an elevation of above sea level...
.
Between 1947 and 1950 Valeri Petrov worked in the Bulgarian legation in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
as a press and cultural attache. During the time he travelled to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
and France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, delegating to various forums.
He has also been an editor in a film studio and in the Balgarski pisatel publishing house. He served as a deputy in the Grand National Assembly
National Assembly of Bulgaria
The National Assembly of Bulgaria is the unicameral parliament and body of the legislative of the Republic of Bulgaria.The National Assembly of Bulgaria was established in 1879 with the Constitution of Bulgaria.-Ordinary National Assembly:...
. Since 2003, he is an academician of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences is the National Academy of Bulgaria, established in 1869. The Academy is autonomous and has a Society of Academicians, Correspondent Members and Foreign Members...
. Politically, he has been a leftist and a socialist ever since his school-time in the Third Bulgarian Kingdom, through the Communist period and up to the present day.
Works
- 1945 — Stari neshta malko po novomu ("Old stuff in a somewhat new way", poetical series
- 1949 — Stihotvoreniya ("Poems"), a book of poetry
- 1956 — screenplay for the film Tochka parva ("Item One")
- 1958 — Kniga za Kitay ("A Book about China"), travel notes
- 1958 — screenplay for the film Na malkiya ostrov ("On the Small Island")
- 1960 — V mekata esen ("In the Mild Autumn"), a poem; awarded the DimitrovGeorgi DimitrovGeorgi Dimitrov Mikhaylov , also known as Georgi Mikhaylovich Dimitrov , was a Bulgarian Communist politician...
Award - 1962 — Improvizatsiya ("Improvisation"), a stage play co-written with Radoy RalinRadoy RalinRadoy Ralin , born Dimitar Stoyanov , was a famous Bulgarian dissident, poet, and satirist.After the downfall of the Communist regime, he was urged to run for Parliament, but adamantly refused....
- 1962 — Poemi, a collection of poems
- 1962 — screenplay for the film Slantseto i syankata ("The Sun and the Shadow")
- 1965 — Kogato rozite tantsuvat ("When Roses Dance"), a stage play
- 1965 — Afrikanski belezhnik ("An African Notebook"), travel notes
- 1966 — screenplay for the film Ritsar bez bronya ("A Knight without Armour")
- 1970 — Na smyah ("In Jest"), satirical poems
- 1970–1971 — translations of Shakespeare's Comedies, two volumes
- 1973–1974 — translations of Shakespeare's Tragedies, two volumes
- 1977 — Byala prikazka ("A White Fairy Tale")
- 1978 — Kopche za san ("A Dream Button")
- 1981 — screenplay for the film Yo Ho Ho - later adapted into the 2006 film The FallThe Fall (2006 film)The Fall is a 2006 adventure fantasy film directed by Tarsem Singh, starring Lee Pace, Catinca Untaru, and Justine Waddell. It is based on the screenplay of the 1981 Bulgarian film Yo Ho Ho by Valeri Petrov. The film earned $3.2 million worldwide. The film was released to theaters in 2008...
- 1986 — Pet prikazki ("Five Fairy Tales")
- 1990 — Selected Works, two volumes