Pavel Vezhinov

Pavel Vezhinov (Bulgarian: Павел Вежинов) (November 9, 1914 – December 2, 1983), born Nikola Delchev Gugov (Bulgarian: Никола Делчев Гугов), was a Bulgarian novelist and scriptwriter, with an interest for social and ethical issues and one of the first Bulgarian authors to use elements of fantasy in his fiction. Vezhinov is best known for his novels The Barrier (Бариерата) (1976) and In the night riding the white horses (Нощем с белите коне)(1975), both later adapted for screen, as well as the screenplay for the Bulgarian film classic Three Reservists (Тримата от запаса)(1971).

Pavel Vezhinov was born on November 9, 1914 in Sofia. In the early 1930-s he wrote for magazines "Жупел", "РЛФ", "Щит", "Изкуство и критика" et al. In 1938-1944 he studied philosophy at Sofia University. In 1938 he publishes his first collection of stories Улица без паваж, and in 1943 - Дни и вечери. Vezhinov joined the Bulgarian Communist Party in 1944.

Beginning in 1944 Vezhinov participated in the World War II as a was correspondent and editor-in-chief of "Frontovak". He later used his war experiences in stories like Златан and Втора рота (the latter was republished several times). In 1950 и 1951 Vezhinov was awarded Dimitrov Prize for his war stories.

From 1947 to 1951 Pavel Vezhinov was assistant chief editor of the journal Стършел, and from 1951 - of the journal Септември. From 1954 to 1972 he worked in Българска кинематография first as a scriptwriter and later as assistant General Director. In 1972 he becomes an editor-in-chief of the magazine Съвременник and member of the Buro of the Steering Council of the Union of Bulgarian Authors.

Throughout 1950-s and 1960 Pavel Vezhinov was publishing several crime stories and novels such as Следите остават (1954), Произшествие на тихата улица (1960), Човекът в сянка (1965), Прилепите летят нощем (1969), as well as wrote travel chronicles of Bulgarian athletes at the Olympic games : Знамена по стадионите (1950), На Олимпиада в Хелзенки (1953), До Мелбълн по въздух и море (1957). He himself was a chief officer of the boxing section.

Pavel Vezhinov was one of the first Bulgarian authors to use fantasy in his writing, as a means of parable or a metaphor. In 1956 he wrote a satirical story Историята на едно привидение, and in 1965 stories Сините пеперуди и Моят пръв ден. In 1973 he publishes novel Гибелта на Аякс.

In 1963 a collection of short stories Момчето с цигулката comes out and marks a new page in Vezhinov's writing, when he became concerned with the moral and ethical issues of modern life. Дъх на бадеми (1966), Звездите над нас (1966), Малките приключения followed.

The novel Нощем с белите коне (1975) first appeared in the literary journal Септември. In 1976 it was followed by Бариерата (1976), for which Vezhinov received another Dimitrov Prize. Each of the several years that followed was marked by another work: Белият гущер (1977), Синият камък (1977), Езерното момче (1979).

Vezhinov's last finished novel was Везни (1982), in which the author continued reflecting on philosofical and psychological problems and complexity of human existence. The last story Дълъг летен ден was printed in the journal "Съвременник" (vol. 3, 1983 г.) shortly before his death.

Pavel Vezhinov died suddenly on December 20, 1983.

• "People's Republic Of Bulgaria" order, II degree (1964)
• Title "People's cultural figure" (1970)
• Title "Hero of the socialist labor" (1974)
• "Georgi Dimitrov" order (1974)
• Recipient of the Dimitrov Prize (1950, 1951, 1971, 1976)

Collections of stories

• Улици без паваж - 1938
• Дни и вечери - 1942
• На пост - 1947
• Мека мебел (роман)|Мека мебел - 1948
• Невероятни истории - 1958
• Нашата сила - 1958
• Момчето с цигулката - 1963
• Дъх на бадеми - 1966
• Сините пеперуди - 1968
• Синият камък . 1977

Stories

• Бариерата - 1976
• Белият гущер - 1977
• Езерното момче - 1976
• Един есенен ден по шосето - 1967
• Втора рота - 1949
• В полето - 1950
• Златан - 1949
• Знамена над стадиона - 1950
• Далеч от бреговете - 1958
• Нашата сила - 1958
• Произшествие на тихата улица - 1960
• Кутия за енфие - 1973

Novels

• Синият залез - 1947
• За честта на Родината - 1949
• Следите остават - 1954
• Произшествие на тихата улица - 1960
• Звездите над нас (Павел Вежинов)|Звездите над нас - 1966
• Прилепите летят нощем - 1969
• Малките приключения - 1970
• Кутия за енфие - 1973
• Самопризнание - 1973
• Гибелта на Аякс - 1973
• Нощем с белите коне - 1975
• Малки семейни хроники - ироничен роман, София. 1982 г,
• Везни - 1982

Film scripts

• Бариерата (филм)|Бариерата
• Следите остават
• Зарево над Драва
• Тримата от запаса
• Специалист по всичко
• Среднощна среща
• На всеки километър
• Нощем с белите коне (филм)|Нощем с белите коне
• Произшествие на сляпата улица
• Трета след слънцето

Works translated into English

• The Boy With the Violin. Sofia, Foreign Languages Press, (1965).
• Far From the Shore. (Edited by Marjorie Pojarliova. Translated by Gregor Pavlov): Sofia, Foreign Languages Press, (1967)