Racho Stoyanov (1883 -1951)

Racho Stoyanov was born on October 7, 1883 in Drianovo, in the family of a craftsman. He studied at the famous secondary school in Gabrovo to 1902. At the age of 20 he moved to Varna, where he worked as a clerk and took part in a theatrical group. He worked as a proofreader in the newspaper "Den" (1904-1910), librarian at the National Assembly (1910-1914) and BAS (1914-1926), a journalist in the editorial offices of newspapers "Mir", "Macedonia" and "Zname". Member of the Writers' Union. Racho Stoyanov began his literary work with poetry. His first print was in 1904 in the journal "Letopisi" - the story "The Man." He cooperated with magazines "Letopisi," "Demokraticheski pogled," "Savremennik", newspapers "Den", "Makedonia", "Literaturen Glas" and "Literaturen Front". His first collection "Stories" (1909) was well received by literary criticism. In 1927 the National Theatre in Sofia opened the season with his drama "Masters," written in 1922. It tells the story of the clash between the traditionalist Nayden and the innovator Zhivko fighting not only for supremacy in carving craft, but also for the heart of beautiful Milkana. During his life the author’s drama was staged in the theaters of Belgrade (1936), Prague (1938), Zagreb (1943). In 1936 he published the novel "Mother Magdalene", awarded by the Academy. And translated from Russian, French and English literature. Racho Stoyanov died on January 12, 1951 in Sofia. On this date the Vocational School of Economics in Dryanovo and the Gabrovo Drama Theatre are baptized. In 1986 the National Literary Award "Racho Stoyanov" was founded, which is awarded to artists who have outstanding contributions to the development of Bulgarian culture.