Throughout November the Sofia City Library pays tribute to renowned journalist, writer and screenwriter Pavel Vezhinov. An exhibition was unveiled to mark his centenary, displaying excerpts from Vezhinov’s works and illustrated by photographs.

“Our aim was to present Pavel Vezhinov as a writer, who raised the spiritual side of life in Sofia to a higher plane”, Mrs. Marchela Borisova from Sofia City Library says. “We invited other Bulgarian libraries to join our initiative, turning it into a nationwide campaign, as he is a writer of national importance. Even before the start of the month dedicated to him, all of his books in the library had been borrowed by readers. Here is one interesting fact: Vezhinov worked at the Sofia City Library in 1942, alongside Bogomil Rainov /who was also to become a prominent writer/. In an interview Pavel Vezhinov says: “I remember I had a dream – to become a librarian. It looked like the best occupation for my development as a writer."

He was one of the talented science-fiction writers in Bulgarian literature. He was also strongly attracted to crime stories. Moreover, for several years he was deputy editor-in-chief of the comic newspaper called Starshel (Hornet). Few people know that he is the screenwriter of popular movies like Jack of All Trades, The Three Reservists and The Traces Remain. His daughter Pavlina Delcheva remembers:

“My father didn’t call himself a writer. When he had to fill in any forms, he would always write “journalist”, wherever his occupation was required. He said that it was only readers who could call anyone “writer”. I am really happy that so many years after his birth there are so many people interested in his work. The books that will be republished, the exhibition and the movies that are to be screened aim to attract the younger generation. Let me say that a new edition of A Book about Pavel Vezhinov is forthcoming with his thoughts about literature, as well as interviews and reminiscences about him."

The National Literature Museum unveiled an exhibition in the month, dedicated to the writer called Beyond the Barrier. Its chief curator Mrs. Anna Vitkova provides the details:

“Many of Vezhinov’s works have served as the basis for movies and that is something that is truly impressive. This fact prompted me to structure the exposition as a parallel between literature and film art. 33 of the author's works are on display visually here, along with 25 movies. The exhibits cover the topics he was interested in – the anti-fascist resistance and WW II, the city he lived in, family relations and the generation gap. Pavel Vezhinov had lots of crime movies and comedies; he was also the screenwriter of many of Bulgaria's favourite TV series. The exhibition is organized with the assistance of the National Film Fund which provided all of the film-related material.”

Until November 26, visitors to the Sofia City Library can also see an exposition, organized by Enthusiast and Ciela publishing houses. Cinema is a double-edged sword presents in 20 canvases different adaptations of the novel Nights with the White Horses and the long short story The Barrier - movies, but also theatre plays, based on both works. The aim of the exhibition is to use visualization to provoke young people's interest in the works of Pavel Vezhinov.

English version: Zhivko Stanchev