Nikola Yonkov Vaptsarov (Bulgarian: Никола Йонков Вапцаров; 7 December 1909 – 23 July 1942) was a Bulgarian[1]poet, communist and revolutionary.[2][3][4] Working most of his life as a machinist, he only wrote in his spare time. Despite the fact that he only ever published one poetry book, he is considered one of the most important Bulgarian poets. Because of his underground communist activity against the government of Boris III and the German troops in Bulgaria, Vaptsarov was arrested, tried, sentenced and executed the same night by a firing squad.
Nikola Vaptsarov Никола Вапцаров
Vaptsarov during his time in the Varna Naval Machinery School
Later, he went to work in a factory in the village of Kocherinovo – at first as a stoker and eventually as a mechanic. He was elected Chairman of the Association, protecting worker rights in the factory. Vaptsarov was devoted to his talent and spent his free time writing and organizing amateur theater pieces. He got fired after a technical failure in 1936. This forced him to move to Sofia, where he worked for the state railway service and the municipal incinerating furnace.[7] He continued writing, and a number of newspapers published poems of his. The "Romantika" poem won him a poetry contest.
Over time, Vaptsarov absorbed a lot of Communist ideas and started taking an active part in the ideological movement.[8] In the late 1930s, he was part of the Macedonian literary circle (which had the task of creating a distinct Macedonian language), but Vaptsarov continued writing only in standard Bulgarian.[9] In 1940, he participated in the so-called "Sobolev action," gathering signatures for a pact of friendship between Bulgaria and the USSR. The illegal activity earned him an arrest and an internment in the village of Godech. After his release in September 1940, Vaptsarov got involved with the Central Military Committee of the Bulgarian Communist Party. His task was to organize the supply of guns and documents for the communist resistance. He was arrested in March 1942. On 23 July 1942, he was sentenced to death and shot the same evening along with 11 other men.
Literary works
His only released book of poetry is Motor Songs (1940).[8]
Legacy
In 1949, the Bulgarian Naval Academy was renamed Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy. On 3 December 1953, he received posthumously the International Peace Award. His Selected Poems were published in London in 1954, by Lawrence & Wishart, translated into English with a foreword by British poet Peter Tempest. His poetry has been translated in 98 languages throughout the world. Vaptsarov Peak in eastern Livingston Island, Antarctica is named after the famous Bulgarian poet. Today, Nikola Vaptsarov's childhood home in Bansko and residence in Sofia are both museums.
Notes
^From a police investigation of 13 December 1940, regarding the arrest of the poet because of his poem "Selska Chronicle": ... I am named Nikola Yonkov Vaptsarov, resident of Sofia, 37 Angel Kunchev Street, religion – Eastern Orthodox , nationality – Bulgarian, marital status – married, occupation – machine technician, born in 1909 ....
^France, Peter (2000). The Oxford guide to literature in English translation. Oxford University Press. p. 194. ISBN978-0198183594.
^The Princeton Encyclopedia of Poetry and Poetics, Stephen Cushman et al., Princeton University Press, 2012, ISBN1400841429, p. 169.
^"The History of Bulgaria", The Greenwood Histories of the Modern Nations Series, Frederick B. Chary, ABC-CLIO, 2011, ISBN0313384460, pp. 143–144.
^Rough Guides (2003). The Rough Guide to Europe 2004. p. 193. ISBN978-1843531081.
^"The Nikola Vaptsarov Museum in Bansko". 21 December 2014. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
^"БДЖ организира пътуване с парния локомотив Баба Меца". 9 May 2019. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
^ ab"Bulgarian literature". Encyclopædia Britannica. 20 July 1998. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
^Dimitar Bechev (2019). Historical Dictionary of North Macedonia (2nd ed.). Rowman & Littlefield. p. 188. ISBN9781538119624.
External links
Full list of works (in Bulgarian)
Biography of Nikola Vapcarov (in English)
Poems by Nikola Vapcarov (in English)
Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy(in Bulgarian)
Police files on Nikola Vaptsarov (in Bulgarian)
January 14, 2023
nikola, vaptsarov, nikola, yonkov, vaptsarov, bulgarian, Никола, Йонков, Вапцаров, december, 1909, july, 1942, bulgarian, poet, communist, revolutionary, working, most, life, machinist, only, wrote, spare, time, despite, fact, that, only, ever, published, poet. Nikola Yonkov Vaptsarov Bulgarian Nikola Jonkov Vapcarov 7 December 1909 23 July 1942 was a Bulgarian 1 poet communist and revolutionary 2 3 4 Working most of his life as a machinist he only wrote in his spare time Despite the fact that he only ever published one poetry book he is considered one of the most important Bulgarian poets Because of his underground communist activity against the government of Boris III and the German troops in Bulgaria Vaptsarov was arrested tried sentenced and executed the same night by a firing squad Nikola Vaptsarov Nikola VapcarovVaptsarov during his time in the Varna Naval Machinery SchoolBorn 1909 12 07 7 December 1909Bansko Ottoman Empire today Bulgaria Died23 July 1942 1942 07 23 aged 32 Sofia BulgariaOccupationpoet activist of the communist resistanceNationalityBulgarianNotable worksMotor Songs Contents 1 Biography 2 Literary works 3 Legacy 4 Notes 5 External linksBiography EditHe was born in Bansko 5 Trained as a machine engineer at the Naval Machinery School in Varna which was later named after him 6 His first service was on the famous Drazki torpedo boat In April and May 1932 Vaptsarov visited Istanbul Famagusta Alexandria Beirut Port Said and Haifa as a crew member of the Burgas vessel Later he went to work in a factory in the village of Kocherinovo at first as a stoker and eventually as a mechanic He was elected Chairman of the Association protecting worker rights in the factory Vaptsarov was devoted to his talent and spent his free time writing and organizing amateur theater pieces He got fired after a technical failure in 1936 This forced him to move to Sofia where he worked for the state railway service and the municipal incinerating furnace 7 He continued writing and a number of newspapers published poems of his The Romantika poem won him a poetry contest Over time Vaptsarov absorbed a lot of Communist ideas and started taking an active part in the ideological movement 8 In the late 1930s he was part of the Macedonian literary circle which had the task of creating a distinct Macedonian language but Vaptsarov continued writing only in standard Bulgarian 9 In 1940 he participated in the so called Sobolev action gathering signatures for a pact of friendship between Bulgaria and the USSR The illegal activity earned him an arrest and an internment in the village of Godech After his release in September 1940 Vaptsarov got involved with the Central Military Committee of the Bulgarian Communist Party His task was to organize the supply of guns and documents for the communist resistance He was arrested in March 1942 On 23 July 1942 he was sentenced to death and shot the same evening along with 11 other men Literary works EditHis only released book of poetry is Motor Songs 1940 8 Legacy EditIn 1949 the Bulgarian Naval Academy was renamed Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy On 3 December 1953 he received posthumously the International Peace Award His Selected Poems were published in London in 1954 by Lawrence amp Wishart translated into English with a foreword by British poet Peter Tempest His poetry has been translated in 98 languages throughout the world Vaptsarov Peak in eastern Livingston Island Antarctica is named after the famous Bulgarian poet Today Nikola Vaptsarov s childhood home in Bansko and residence in Sofia are both museums Notes Edit From a police investigation of 13 December 1940 regarding the arrest of the poet because of his poem Selska Chronicle I am named Nikola Yonkov Vaptsarov resident of Sofia 37 Angel Kunchev Street religion Eastern Orthodox nationality Bulgarian marital status married occupation machine technician born in 1909 France Peter 2000 The Oxford guide to literature in English translation Oxford University Press p 194 ISBN 978 0198183594 The Princeton Encyclopedia of Poetry and Poetics Stephen Cushman et al Princeton University Press 2012 ISBN 1400841429 p 169 The History of Bulgaria The Greenwood Histories of the Modern Nations Series Frederick B Chary ABC CLIO 2011 ISBN 0313384460 pp 143 144 Rough Guides 2003 The Rough Guide to Europe 2004 p 193 ISBN 978 1843531081 The Nikola Vaptsarov Museum in Bansko 21 December 2014 Retrieved 6 May 2020 BDZh organizira ptuvane s parniya lokomotiv Baba Meca 9 May 2019 Retrieved 6 May 2020 a b Bulgarian literature Encyclopaedia Britannica 20 July 1998 Retrieved 6 May 2020 Dimitar Bechev 2019 Historical Dictionary of North Macedonia 2nd ed Rowman amp Littlefield p 188 ISBN 9781538119624 External links EditFull list of works in Bulgarian Biography of Nikola Vapcarov in English Poems by Nikola Vapcarov in English Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy in Bulgarian Police files on Nikola Vaptsarov in Bulgarian Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Nikola Vaptsarov amp oldid 1128650978, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
