Yordan Yovkov facts for kids
Yordan Stefanov Yovkov (Йордан Стефанов Йовков) (born November 9, 1880 – died October 15, 1937) was a very important Bulgarian writer. He lived and wrote during the time between World War I and World War II.
About His Life
Yordan Yovkov was born in a village called Zheravna. He went to the First Sofia Men’s High School and finished with high honors in 1900. After that, he became a teacher.
He taught for one year in a village in central Bulgaria. Then, in 1904, he joined the School for Reserve Officers in Knyazhevo. Later, he went to Sofia University to study law.
When the First Balkan War started in 1912, he joined the army. He was a soldier with his brother Kosta. In 1913, during the Second Balkan War, he was shot in the leg near Doyran.
After the wars, he moved to Sofia. He worked as an editor for a magazine called "People’s Army." He also became a librarian and edited government publications.
During World War I, he worked as a border officer near the Greek border. While there, he was asked to be a reporter for a newspaper called "Military News."
He taught in Varna for many years. In 1920, he became a press secretary for the Bulgarian government in Bucharest. In 1927, he was demoted, which means he was given a lower position. Because of this, he quit his job and went back to Sofia.
His Books and Stories
Yovkov's experiences in the wars greatly changed his writing style. His first story, published in 1910, was about village life. But after the wars, his stories became more serious and often about military life.
Later, he started writing less about sad topics. Instead, he focused on real descriptions of villagers and life in the countryside. In his story Shibil, he used old Turkish words. This helped make the story feel more real.
His books Legends of Stara Planina (1927) and Inn at Antimovo (1927) made him a famous writer. In 1929, he won the Cyril and Methodius Prize for Literature. This was a big award from the Bulgarian Academy of Science.
He also wrote plays like Albena (1930) and Boryana (1932). He wrote a funny play called The Millionaire (1930). His book The Family by the Frontier came out in 1934. Some of his works, like "Albena" and "Millionaire," were even turned into operas.
Many of his stories were also made into movies. These include The Most Loyal Guard (1929) and Shibil (1968).
Honors and Memorials
Yovkov’s childhood home in Zheravna was turned into a museum in 1957.
In 1985, a large dam in northeastern Bulgaria was named after him. The Yovkovtsi Dam is near the town of Elena. It provides water to Veliko Turnovo and nearby areas. It is a very important water source.
A place called Yovkov Point on Greenwich Island in Antarctica is also named after Yordan Yovkov.
There is a statue of Yovkov in a park in Sofia, behind the Vasil Levski National Stadium.
The village of Yovkovo in Dobrich Province is also named in his honor.
Images for kids
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The Grave of Yordan Yovkov at Sofia Central Cemetery
See also
In Spanish: Yordan Yovkov para niños
