Nikola Dim. Nikolov

Everyone knows the specific occasion that gave rise to Iliya R. Blaskov's idea to write his story "Lost Stanka". During a dark night during "Great Lent" in 1863, a strange man came to Father Konstantin, with whom Blaskov lived in one of the school buildings in Shumen, and stayed with him longer than usual. Intrigued by the unusual night visit, the next day Blaskov inquired of the clergyman what kind of man this confessor was and what he had told him so much. "Such a man and such a confession," replied Father Konstantin, "I have met him for the first time in my life. I can tell you who this man is, but his confession - I cannot, it is forbidden to me by church laws." The answer intrigued Blaskova even more and he set out to look for the night guest. He barely found him, because this man - his name was Zhelyu - was an outlaw, hid and rarely appeared in public. When they met, Zhelyu confided in Blaskova and told her about his turbulent and adventurous life. Already the author of two books with religious content, Blaskov had long wanted to write a third, but with a plot from the life of the Bulgarians. He had as models Rakovski's books "Predvestnik Gorskago patnika" (1856) and "Forest Traveler" (1857) and, above all, Vasil Drumev's "Unhappy Family" published in 1860. Inspired and fascinated by these books himself, Blaskov saw the interest with which they were read by young and old, and therefore he wanted his new book to be like them. But he did not have a suitable plot. And so it was until he met Zhelyu. From the numerous stories he told him, Blaskov chose the story of the girl Stanka stolen by the Tatars and sat down to describe it (Ilya R. Blaskov "Memories from my student, teacher and writer life", S., 1907, p. 167). After its publication in 1865 in Bolgrad, Blaskov's story gained immense success. It became one of the most sought-after and read books before the Liberation. In 1870, "Lost Stanka" was dramatized by Bogdan Kovachev and, as Vazov testifies, was played with great success. The pages from "Unlovable-Unlovable" are unforgettable, where it tells of the delight and patriotic enthusiasm that "Lost Stanka" evoked among the crowds when it was presented in Wallachia. Zhelyu and Nikola, heroes of the story, became the most popular names, synonymous with fearlessness and selflessness.