Pavel Vezhinov (1914-1983)

Pavel Vezhinov was born on November 9, 1914 in the city of Sofia. The real name of the writer is Nikola Delchev Gugov. In 1932 he began to work for the “Zhupel” (Fire), “RLF”, “Shtit” (Shield) and “Izkustvo i kritika” (Art and Critique) editions. Four years later he enrolled Sofia University, where he was studying philosophy. In the Spring of 1944 Pavel Vezhinov left for the front as an editor of “Frontovak” (Front-line Soldier) newspaper. His impressions from the war life he described in the short novels “Zlatan” (Bulgarian name) and “Vtora rota” (Second Military Company). The latter became very popular, that’s why it was published several times. After the war ended in 1947 Vezhinov became assistant editor of the “Starshel” (Hornet) newspaper and the “Septemvri” (September) magazine. In 1954 he started to work in the Bulgarian Cinema Industry, where he stayed almost two decades. Pavel Vezhinov is the author of the medleys “Ulitsi bez pavazh” (Streets without pavement), “Dni i vecheri” (Days and Nights), “Sinite Peperudi” (The Blue Butterflies), “Gibelta na Aiaks” (The Death of Ajax), “Momcheto s cigulkata” (The boy with the violin), the children novels “Sledite ostavat” (The Scars Remain), “Proizshestvie na tihata ulica” (An accident at the Silent Street), “Prilepite letiat noshtem” (The Bats Fly at Night), the novelette “Barierata” (The Barrier), “Ezernoto momche” (The Lake Boy), “Beliat gushter” (The White Lizard), and the novels “Zvezdite zad nas” (The Stars Behind Us), “Noshtem s belite kone” (At Night with the White Horses) and many others.