(1878 - 1914)
Peyo Yavorov (Peyo Totev Kracholov) was born in the town of Chirpan. He completed the fifth form of high school in Plovdiv and worked as a telegraph operator in Chirpan, Stara Zagora, Sliven, Straldzha, Anhialo (now Pomorie), and Sofia. Yavorov was editor in a number of periodicals associated with the Macedonian revolutionary movement (he remained closely tied with the Macedonian cause until his death and was one of the associates of Gotse Delchev, as well as his first biographer; about his days as a revolutionary in Macedonia Yavorov wrote the memoir Haidushki kopneniya [Rebel Yearnings], 1909).

Dr. Krastyu Krastev and Pencho Slaveikov helped him transfer to Sofia where Yavorov became an associate and editor of the literary journal Misal led by them. Yavorov’s first poetry collection Stihotvoreniya [Poems] was published in 1901; its second edition in 1904 was prefaced by Pencho Slaveikov (the preface is indicative of the aesthetic value judgments of the modernist Slaveikov). Yavorov was employed as librarian and later as dramatist in the National Theatre. Resulting from his theatre connection are his plays V polite na Vitosha [At the Foothills of Vitosha] (premiered in 1911) and Kogato gram udari, kak ehoto zagluhva [When Lightning Strikes] (1912). His second poetry collection Bezsanitsi [Sleepless Nights] appeared in 1907; the anthology of his works Podir senkite na oblatsite [Following the Clouds’ Shadows] was published in 1910. In the wake of his wife’s - Lora Karavelova - suicide (1913) the poet attempted to commit suicide by shooting himself in the temple; he did not die but lost his sight and was accused of murdering his wife. Abandoned by nearly all his friends and almost blind, Yavorov committed suicide on 29 October 1914.

Both the biographical historical accounts and the poetry of Yavorov are of paramount significance to Bulgarian culture. In his later period Yavorov is often regarded as precursor (or founder) of Bulgarian symbolism and certainly as one of the strongest voices of philosophical poetry in Bulgaria.

Peyo Yavorov’s poetry has been translated and rendered in English by Clarence A. Manning, Vladimir Phillipov, Peter Tempest, Vivian Pinto, Jr., and Christopher Buxton.

 

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All spellings; Jaworoff, Peju K.; Javorov, Pejo; Javorov, Pejo K. ; Jaworoff, Peju; Jaworow, Peju; Яворов, Пейо ; Яворов, Пейо К.; Jaworow, Pejo; Яворов, Пею ; Jaworoff, P. K. ; Яворов, П. К.; Jaworoff, P. K.