Pencho Danchev

Orlin Vassilev began his literary career in 1926, immediately after the September Uprising and the bloody events of April 1925. These important events in our recent political history, as well as the post-revolutionary atmosphere in Bulgaria, left a deep mark on the work of this talented and socially conscious writer. On September 9, 1944, Orlin Vassilev was a widely popular, beloved, and sought-after author of novels, novellas, short stories, and a drama. Among his most significant works prior to September 9 are undoubtedly his novels The White Path and A Bandit's Mother Does Not Feed, the novella The Wild Forest, and a large number of short stories. A faithful disciple of our progressive realistic literature of the past and an ardent admirer of the great Russian classical literature, Orlin Vassilev created a number of works that earned him one of the top places in our contemporary fiction. Characteristic of the writer's creative method is his tendency toward broad philosophical generalization of artistically recreated events in life, as well as his active, restless intervention in the most difficult ideological and moral problems that excite a wide range of readers, which he raises and resolves in his works. Not only his works on contemporary themes, but also those that artistically recreate events from the distant past, such as the novel "Haidutin's Mother Does Not Feed," are also very relevant and sound contemporary in their subject matter.

In the first years after the September 9th uprising, Radoj Ralin belonged to the youngest generation, he had not yet published a book, and some were already talking about his "style". But while the talent of the young poet was undeniable, what was called then, and later, his style was far from undeniable. Radoj Ralin's style was characterized by the deliberate focus on simple, "ordinary" things and the conscious denudation of the verse from the brightness and juiciness of expression.

Many collections of poetry begin with dedications. Often this is the most sincere, the strongest poem in the book - a secret assessment of the journey, dictated by a sense of duty fulfilled or by the pangs of a rebellious conscience. Dedication - these are the poet's tablets, on which his civic and artistic credo is ardently written. These are manifestos of an aesthetic creed, excited promises to readers, to the people, to himself. Alas, poets do not always remain at the height of their aesthetic creed, they are not always able to resist their promises. On their own path, on the path of their cherished "Dedication" only true poets walk, and only then when their talent is elevated by a passionately searching, free creative spirit. Oh, this world must suffer, it must be reborn in you, and every thing and image around you must be recreated by your heart.. ("Dedication")

Some irresistibly praise him, others almost deny him, and still others with distrust refrain. Many of the reasons for such a contradictory attitude are contained in the poetry of Lyubomir Levchev himself. Here, in front of me is the first collection of poems by the Young Poet - "The Stars are Mine". "The Stars are Mine", "Strength", for honor. and Glory", Song for Garcia Lorca", "October Poems", Song for Me" - these are the cons. I list these few titles, and objections arise in me. I immediately want to make reservations. And in other poems such inexperience is evident! The young poet's power over words is still weak! Some places in his book are simply clumsy prose. The truly original is just intertwined with his capricious attempts to walk with his feet up. This is how it is, and it irritates. And the one who does not look deeply into the appearance of the poet's Lyrical Hero, who does not listen carefully to his voice, so often drowned out by unnecessary noises, will still be left with irritation. Lyubomir Levchev's book has a more complex characteristic than it might seem at first glance. There are many shortcomings, but what is good in his poems is especially good, symptomatically good, if I may put it that way - promisingly good. The second collection of poems - "Forever" even more categorically confirmed the impression of an original, interesting voice in our young poetry. It also confirmed the impression of some, already becoming organic weaknesses in Levchev's work. Let's start from the beginning. We read the program poem "The Stars Are Mine". Our hearing is still unaccustomed to these Audacity. What an insistent admonition that the stars were his! We involuntarily want to calm the irrepressible poetic cosmonaut. More modestly, young man! Can't you be quieter,