Pencho Slaveykov facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pencho Slaveykov
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| Born | 27 April 1866 Tryavna, Ottoman Empire |
| Died | 28 May 1912 (aged 46) Brunate, Italy |
| Resting place | Central Sofia Cemetery 42°42′47.6″N 023°20′02.2″E / 42.713222°N 23.333944°E |
| Genre | Poem, Essay |
| Partner | Mara Belcheva |
| Parents | Petko Slaveykov |
Pencho Petkov Slaveykov (Bulgarian: Пенчо Петков Славейков) was a famous Bulgarian poet. He was born on April 27, 1866, and passed away on June 10, 1912. Pencho was part of a group of writers called "Misal," which means "Thought." He was also the youngest son of another well-known writer, Petko Slaveykov.
Contents
A Poet's Life
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Pencho Slaveykov was born in Tryavna when Bulgaria was still under Ottoman rule. This was a time when Bulgarians were working to revive their culture and gain independence. He went to school in Tryavna, Stara Zagora, and Plovdiv.
When he was eighteen, in January 1884, Pencho had a serious accident. He fell asleep outside in the snow and became very ill with pneumonia. Even after a lot of treatment in different cities like Plovdiv, Sofia, Leipzig, Berlin, and Paris, the illness left him with lasting problems. He needed a cane to walk and found it hard to write and speak clearly. These difficulties made him feel sad at times, but he found comfort and strength in literature.
Studies and Early Works
Pencho Slaveykov wrote many poems. He worked with several magazines that published his writings. For a time, he lived in Leipzig, Germany, where he studied philosophy. This helped him learn a lot about German literature, ideas, and art, which influenced his own work.
Returning to Bulgaria
After coming back to Bulgaria in 1898, Slaveykov joined the "Misal" circle. This was a group of important writers, including Krastyo Krastev, Petko Todorov, and Peyo Yavorov. He held important positions, first as an assistant director (1901–1909) and then as the director of the National Library of Bulgaria (1909–1911). He also directed the Bulgarian National Theatre (1908–1909).
In 1903, Pencho Slaveykov started a relationship with another poet, Mara Belcheva. They were together until his death in 1912. Even though they never officially married, he often called her his "wife" in his writings.
Travels and Final Days
Slaveykov traveled to many cities, including Moscow (1909), Istanbul, Athens, Naples, Sorrento, and Rome (1911). He visited these places to study how their libraries were organized and developed. When he returned, he worked very hard.
However, in July 1911, he was removed from his job as director of the National Library due to political disagreements. He then left Bulgaria and lived in different towns in Switzerland, like Zürich and Lugano. In November 1911, he arrived in Italy. He stayed in Rome for three months, but in May 1912, he started traveling again, looking for a cure for his health problems in the mountains. He eventually arrived in the small town of Brunate, near Lake Como, where he passed away on June 10, 1912.
Pencho Slaveykov was first buried in Brunate. Later, in 1921, his remains were brought back to Bulgaria. A Swedish professor named Al. Jensen had suggested that Slaveykov should receive a Nobel Prize for his work. However, because of his death, the Nobel Prize committee could not consider him.
Pencho Slaveykov and Mara Belcheva are shown on the Bulgarian 50 levs banknote, which was first issued in 1999.
See also
- "Do you give Balkandzhi Yovo, nice Yana to the Turkish faith?", a folk song reworked by Slaveykov
