Yordan Yovkov
Encyclopedia
Yordan Yovkov (November 9, 1880 – October 15, 1937) was a Bulgaria
n writer, considered one of the best in the country during the period between the two world wars.
, Yovkov studied at First Sofia Men’s High School, from which he graduated in 1900 with honours, and became a teacher. After teaching for one year in a village in central Bulgaria
he entered into the School for Reserve Officers in Knyazhevo as a cadet
, before moving to Sofia University
to study law in 1904.
When the First Balkan War
began in 1912, he received was enlisted and, along with his brother Kosta, joined the 41st division (probably 41st regiment) at Bourgas. He was wounded by a bullet in his leg fighting in the Second Balkan War
in 1913, during a battle near Doyran. Following this he settled in Sofia
and became an editor of the People’s Army (Narodna Armiya) magazine, and then librarian for the Minister of Interior Affairs and editor of a state publication.
During World War I
he was sent to work as a border officer at the Greek border near the Mesta River
. Whilst there he received summons to work as a correspondent for the paper Military News.
He spent trying years teaching in Varna
until the autumn of 1920, after which he served as a press secretary in the Bulgarian legislation in Bucharest
. He was demoted in 1927 for unspecified reasons, which caused him to resign and return to Sofia.
Eventually he moved away from melancholic, depressive themes towards authentic descriptions of villagers and country life.
In his short story Shibil, he used turkisms to give a sense of realism to the work.
His story Legends of Stara Planina (1927, Staroplaninski legendi, alternately known as the Balkan Legends ) and play Inn at Antimovo (1927) established him as a major writer. In 1929, he received the Cyril and Methodius Prize for Literature from the Bulgarian Academy of Science.
His other works include the dramas Albena (1930) and Boryana (1932); a comedy The Millionaire (1930, Milionerut); and a book, The Family by the Frontier (1934, Chiflikut krai granitsata).
A number of his stories were made into films, including Nai-vyarnata ctrazha (The Most Loyal Guard, film in 1929); Shibil (1968); Nona (1973, from the novel Chiflikut krai granitsata); and 24 Chasa duzhd (1982, based on the novel Chastinyat uchitel).
In 1985, a dam in northeastern Bulgaria was named after him. Yovkovtsi Dam, situated 5km from the town of Elena, supplies water to Veliko Turnovo
and surrounding areas. It is 223,000 decares in size and is a hygienic protected zone.
Yovkov Point
on Greenwich Island, South Shetland Islands
, Antarctica is named for Yordan Yovkov.
There is a bust of Yovkov in the park behind Vasil Levski National Stadium
in Sofia.
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 writer, considered one of the best in the country during the period between the two world wars.
Biography
Born in the village of ZheravnaZheravna
Zheravna is a village in central eastern Bulgaria, part of Kotel municipality, Sliven Province. The village, set in a small valley at the southern foot of the eastern Balkan Mountains, is an architectural reserve of national importance consisting of more than 200 wooden houses from the Bulgarian...
, Yovkov studied at First Sofia Men’s High School, from which he graduated in 1900 with honours, and became a teacher. After teaching for one year in a village in central 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 entered into the School for Reserve Officers in Knyazhevo as a cadet
Cadet
A cadet is a trainee to become an officer in the military, often a person who is a junior trainee. The term comes from the term "cadet" for younger sons of a noble family.- Military context :...
, before moving to 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...
to study law in 1904.
When the First Balkan War
First Balkan War
The First Balkan War, which lasted from October 1912 to May 1913, pitted the Balkan League against the Ottoman Empire. The combined armies of the Balkan states overcame the numerically inferior and strategically disadvantaged Ottoman armies and achieved rapid success...
began in 1912, he received was enlisted and, along with his brother Kosta, joined the 41st division (probably 41st regiment) at Bourgas. He was wounded by a bullet in his leg fighting in the Second Balkan War
Second Balkan War
The Second Balkan War was a conflict which broke out when Bulgaria, dissatisfied with its share of the spoils of the First Balkan War, attacked its former allies, Serbia and Greece, on 29 June 1913. Bulgaria had a prewar agreement about the division of region of Macedonia...
in 1913, during a battle near Doyran. Following this he settled in 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...
and became an editor of the People’s Army (Narodna Armiya) magazine, and then librarian for the Minister of Interior Affairs and editor of a state publication.
During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
he was sent to work as a border officer at the Greek border near the Mesta River
Mesta River
The Nestos or Mesta , formerly the Mesta Karasu , is a river in Bulgaria and Greece. It rises in the Rila Mountains and flows into the Aegean Sea near the island of Thasos. It plunges down towering canyons toward the Aegean Sea through mostly metamorphic formations...
. Whilst there he received summons to work as a correspondent for the paper Military News.
He spent trying years teaching in Varna
Varna
Varna is the largest city and seaside resort on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast and third-largest in Bulgaria after Sofia and Plovdiv, with a population of 334,870 inhabitants according to Census 2011...
until the autumn of 1920, after which he served as a press secretary in the Bulgarian legislation in Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
. He was demoted in 1927 for unspecified reasons, which caused him to resign and return to Sofia.
Literary work and legacy
Yovkov’s war experiences greatly influenced his mentality and style of writing. Whereas his first literary effort was a short story about village life and patriarchal customs, published in 1910, his post-war pieces were more harsh and militaristic.Eventually he moved away from melancholic, depressive themes towards authentic descriptions of villagers and country life.
In his short story Shibil, he used turkisms to give a sense of realism to the work.
His story Legends of Stara Planina (1927, Staroplaninski legendi, alternately known as the Balkan Legends ) and play Inn at Antimovo (1927) established him as a major writer. In 1929, he received the Cyril and Methodius Prize for Literature from the Bulgarian Academy of Science.
His other works include the dramas Albena (1930) and Boryana (1932); a comedy The Millionaire (1930, Milionerut); and a book, The Family by the Frontier (1934, Chiflikut krai granitsata).
A number of his stories were made into films, including Nai-vyarnata ctrazha (The Most Loyal Guard, film in 1929); Shibil (1968); Nona (1973, from the novel Chiflikut krai granitsata); and 24 Chasa duzhd (1982, based on the novel Chastinyat uchitel).
Honors
Yovkov’s natal home in Zheravna was turned into a museum in 1957.In 1985, a dam in northeastern Bulgaria was named after him. Yovkovtsi Dam, situated 5km from the town of Elena, supplies water to Veliko Turnovo
Veliko Tarnovo
Veliko Tarnovo is a city in north central Bulgaria and the administrative centre of Veliko Tarnovo Province. Often referred to as the "City of the Tsars", Veliko Tarnovo is located on the Yantra River and is famous as the historical capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire, attracting many tourists...
and surrounding areas. It is 223,000 decares in size and is a hygienic protected zone.
Yovkov Point
Yovkov Point
Yovkov Point is a point on the southwest coast of Greenwich Island, Antarctica projecting 150 m southwards into McFarlane Strait, forming the northwest side of the entrance to Kramolin Cove. Formed as a result of Murgash Glacier's retreat in the late 20th and early 21st century...
on Greenwich 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...
, Antarctica is named for Yordan Yovkov.
There is a bust of Yovkov in the park behind Vasil Levski National Stadium
Vasil Levski National Stadium
Vasil Levski National Stadium , named after Bulgarian national hero Vasil Levski, is one of Bulgaria's largest sports venues and the country's second largest stadium...
in Sofia.