Bulgarians love their history so much that they write it as novels too – thick, epic and with plenty of horsemen.
Dimitar Talev (1898–1966)
The trilogy that begins with “The Iron Candlestick” („Железният светилник“) (1952) follows several generations from Prespa and Ohrid through the Bulgarian National Revival – the struggle for church, school and language. It continues with “The Bells of Prespa” („Преспанските камбани“) and “Ilinden” („Илинден“).
Stefan Dichev (1920–1996)
“The Road to Sofia” („Пътят към София“) is a novel about the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878, with espionage, love and snowy mountain passes. It reads like an adventure and is remembered as history.
Vera Mutafchieva (1929–2009)
Historian and writer. “The Case of Cem” („Случаят Джем“) tells of the Ottoman prince Cem, turned into a hostage of European politics, while “Chronicle of the Troubled Time” („Летопис на смутното време“) deals with the Kardzhali unrest. Wise, ironic and not at all boring.
Anton Donchev
For “Time of Parting” („Време разделно“), see the page on the novel in the second half of the 20th century.
The rule of the Bulgarian historical novel is simple – if the hero is happy in chapter one, by chapter ten he will have lost his horse, his beloved and at least one tooth. But he will win freedom.