Hristo Smirnenski facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hristo Smirnenski
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| Native name |
Христо Смирненски
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| Born | Hristo Izmirliev September 17, 1898 Kılkış, Ottoman Empire |
| Died | June 18, 1923 (aged 24) Sofia, Bulgaria |
| Occupation | Poet, prose writer |
| Nationality | Ottoman/Bulgarian |
Hristo Smirnenski (Bulgarian: Христо Смирненски), born Hristo Izmirliev, was a famous Bulgarian poet and writer. He lived from September 17, 1898, to June 18, 1923. Hristo joined the Bulgarian Communist Party and wrote about ideas of fairness and equality for everyone. His writing style was often light-hearted and kind. Even though he died very young, at just 24 years old, he left behind many important works that are still admired today. Most of his well-known poems were written in only three years.
Contents
Early Life and Challenges
Hristo Izmirliev was born in 1898 in a town called Kukush (now Kilkis, Greece). This area was known for its strong traditions and active people. Hristo's family was not rich. His father, Dimitar Izmirliev, was a respected man in Kukush. However, he was put in prison because of his socialist ideas, which means he believed in a society where everyone is equal and shares resources.
When Hristo was 14, in October 1912, the First Balkan War began. Bulgarian soldiers left Kukush. After the war, there were disagreements, and the Second Balkan War started. Greek troops attacked and burned Kukush. Hristo's family, along with thousands of others, had to leave their home and move to Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria.
Even though they were poor, Hristo's parents made sure their children could study. Hristo went to a technical school. His younger brother, Anastas, helped the family by selling newspapers.
Becoming a Writer
Hristo Smirnenski started writing when he was 17, in 1915. He was in his second year of college. His first writings appeared in a funny newspaper called K'vo da e (which means Anything Goes). He first used the name "Smirnenski" in a magazine called Smyah i salzi (Laughter and Tears). Even though he was young, Hristo quickly became a popular writer. In 1917, he officially started using the pen name Smirnenski.
While studying at the technical school, he also worked in a shop. During this time, World War I began. In May 1917, Hristo joined the Military School as a cadet. He continued to write and publish funny articles every day from his barracks.
At the end of 1917, the October Revolution happened in Russia. This event, where workers and peasants took power, had a big impact around the world. To stop students from being influenced by these new ideas, a special rule was put in place at Hristo's school. In April 1918, Hristo published his first collection of poems called Raznokalibreni vazdishki v stihove i proza (Sighs of Various Sizes, in Verse and Prose). It was a humorous book, but Hristo later felt it wasn't his best work.
In 1918, a big event called the Soldiers' Revolt happened against King Ferdinand. This revolt greatly influenced Hristo. He saw the violent clashes in Sofia. He was shocked by how cruelly the government stopped the rebels. Because of this, he left the Military School in November, and his father had to pay a fee for him to leave.
Fighting for Justice
After leaving the military school, Smirnenski worked for a popular newspaper called Bulgarin. He also worked as a clerk, reporter, and editor to earn a living.
The years 1919 and 1920 were very busy in Sofia. In November 1919, Smirnenski started writing for Red Laughter, a weekly magazine of the Communist Party. His humor began to focus more on social issues. He joined protests and rallies, asking for things like freedom for jailed soldiers and better conditions for workers. Slowly, his belief in social justice became a very important part of his views. He became a strong supporter of the working class. In the spring of 1920, he joined the Communist Youth League, and in 1921, he became a member of the Bulgarian Communist Party.
The year 1920 was a turning point for Smirnenski's writing. His first truly important poem, "The First of May," was published in Red Laughter. He published many other poems in this magazine, such as "Nee" (June 26, 1920), "Red Squads" (September 3, 1920), "The Street" and "Tomorrow" (September 24, 1920), and "Herald of the New Day" (October 15, 1920). Many of his new works, showing his fresh ideas, appeared in Red Laughter and another party newspaper called Workers' Newspaper.
In February 1922, his second and final poetry collection, To be the Day!, was published. The first 1,500 copies sold out quickly, and a second edition was printed. This book made Smirnenski known as a very talented poet. His work was about social issues and inspired many people. He showed a deep love for humanity and dreamed of happiness for everyone. He wrote, "What a divine happiness it is to be human." His works encouraged millions to stand up against unfairness.
His Final Years
Smirnenski worked very hard and faced many difficulties. This affected his health. He sadly died on June 18, 1923, from tuberculosis. He was only 24 years old. Even until his last breath, he followed political events and kept his hope, positive attitude, and sense of humor.
His Lasting Impact
Despite his early death, Smirnenski was a very productive writer. In just eight years of his writing career, he wrote thousands of poems and stories. He used more than 70 different pen names! One of the latest collections of his works fills eight books.
People who believed in socialist ideas praised him for supporting those ideals in his writings. His poetry is full of energy and expresses his personal feelings. His amazing humor, his belief in life, and his kindness are beautifully shown in his works. Many of his most famous poems create a feeling of excitement and the need for change in the world. They also show the sadness of harsh realities and a willingness to fight for a better future.
His works are still important today and are often discussed. Even though some people might not fully appreciate him, he continues to inspire millions. He truly deserves to be honored.
A place called Smirnenski Point on Robert Island, in the South Shetland Islands, is named after Hristo Smirnenski.
