Bai Ganyo: Incredible Tales of a Modern Bulgarian

Bai Ganyo is an interesting piece of literature and perhaps not my usual cup of tea although I sincerely enjoyed it very much. This is not a novel but instead a series of small vignettes, written as if they were the various stories shared by friends. Unlike the Decameron, there is not surrounded structure around the series of stories to set the context; however, there is a very fine introduction to this edition that helps to set the political and historical context for this book. I highly recommend reading that introduction as that information really illuminates the stories.Konstantinov writes each vignettes as if it were the retelling by one of the men in his close circle of friends. This is one of the many things I really loved about the book. Each anecdote has a style that is slightly different and nicely underlines the premise of a group of friends exchanging tales. There is a breeziness and chattiness that provides the same feeling as the best late night discussions with friends in a cafe. This style not only drew me into each vignette but also made me feel included in that circle of close friends as they shared their stories. Each of the tale tellers-given various monikers to obscure the actual identities of the men who were the templates-was based on a real member of Konstantinov's circle. Perhaps he was able to imbue each story with their style of discourse because he knew them so very well and enjoyed such jovial story telling on a regular basis. Regardless, by the end of the of the book, I had begun to get a feel for each of these tale-tellers. Fortunately for us modern readers, this edition provides very nice footnotes that illuminate the historical counterparts to Konstantinov's tale tellers. (I admit freely that I enjoyed the footnotes as much as the stories.)The vignettes are divided in two sections though they were originally published in various periodicals and collections. Part 1, which I think of as Hope, contains tales of Bai Ganyo in Europe outside of Bulgaria. Another thing I enjoy about the Bai Ganyo stories is just how Konstantinov has taken the Bulgarian stereotype that Bai Ganyo represents and turned it to his own ends. At times deceitful, small-minded and miserly, Ganyo is also irreverant, charming, rascally, and fun. While I would laugh and even stare opened mouth at some of his behavior on the page, I was still charmed by Bai Ganyo in part 1. My feeling from the prose was that Konstantinov was looking at the best and worst of what he saw in his fellow Bulgarians as they experienced their national growing pains once leaving Ottoman rule. His writing seemed to imply hope and good humor mixed in with this his critical social commentary. As an outsider to both Bulgarian and Konstantinov's circle of friends and the period he wrote in, I also enjoyed the insight to his 19th century perspective on Bulgaria and other parts of Europe. Though he may not have originally intended it, I also felt there was some social critique made about his friends and their dynamic, those bright young men with their ideals and higher education. All in all, I adored that first section and the pages simply flew.Part two, which I think of as Disillusionment, is much less free-wheeling and fun. Some of that breezy, chatty style of friends gossiping over coffee is gone. The topics of each tale are more serious, and they are closer to home for Konstantinov as they deal with Bai Ganyo in Bulgaria and Bulgarian politics in particular. These tales I found much harder to read though no less enjoyable for the quality of the writing or their insight. However, I could feel that the writer himself had been disillusioned by his experience of Bulgarian politics of the time and I found the change from ealier, nearly ebullient attitude to his more serious and at times quite unhappy perspective to be hard to watch. There are times when he slips close to a bitterness typical of idealist young men who have had their hopes smashed. These stories in part 2, however, have perhaps more depth because of his less forgiving perspective. I, at no point, felt that what he was relating in terms of the politics of a changing and growing nation were somehow only a Bulgarian experience. I think anyone can relate to the experience of watching their political system fail at supporting what is good for their homeland or watching the more politically savvy candidate win over the more honest, inspired individual. So I found in part 2 not only satirical criticism of Bulgarian politics of the late 19th century but also many anecdotes that I could apply to my own experience of politics and nationalism.Finally, I cannot finish this review without mentioning the translation itself. Since I don't speak or read Bulgarian, I would not have been able to enjoy this masterful piece of literature had this translation not been produced. I have read a number of things in translation over the years and even endured my own efforts at translating works from one language to another. I have respect even for mediocre translations because the work and skill involved is pretty monumental, but this work is frankly a masterful and wonderful translation. Of course, I can't compare it to the original text myself but I can say that the translators captured not only the different voices for each tale teller but also captured that sense of the 19th century. At the same time that they juggled these two not inconsiderable issues, they crafted beautiful, readable prose. I was deeply engaged by the work, and that is no small compliment to the translators. It was an immense undertaking and for me, among the best translations I have ever read. Someday, I would love to read enough Bulgarian to read some Bai Ganyo in the original because I'm just a language geek like that, but I honestly don't feel that I have lost anything in reading a translation of this caliber.To read a longer version of my review and to see notes on the music mentioned in this book, visit [...]

Baj Ganjo, as a modern representative of capitalism in Global Village. In order to understand Aleko Konstantinov and his main hero, Baj Ganjo,You must replace this character in it's political and historical environment.Bulgaria, end of 19th and beginning of 20th century.This is already a far away history.As any Bulgarian would say.After having been during 5 centuries under Ottoman imperium, Bulgaria was « liberated » by Russians 1878.The vertebral column of humanists who organized, or rather provoked this freedom from Turkish yoke, were intellectuals with democratic and laic ideas.Bulgaria had to accept a Royalist government, with which all my ancestors agreed, being convinced that they would be able to arrange liberty and equal rights for all Bulgarians in such a society.You would see immediately parting away of ideas and practice, similar to what happened during French revolution, one century before.Liberté, Fraternité et Egalité were first ideas which moved the country, but ended in the First French Empire.About France, all further History is well known, about Napoleon, etc...Bulgaria is a small country, and even my fellow-countrymen do not know well their own history, and ignore, in fact, who Aleko Konstantinov was.They all have read this author.But, even during his living, his writings and their meaning were largely ignored by contemporaries.It is similar to what Bourvil, a French actor, would tell about his living in France.People are unable to dissociate depicted character, especially a humoristic one, from the actor or writer himself.Konstantinov would complain about people who knew his face, that they would adress him calling him Baj Ganjo.And Bourvil would bitterly complain on TV, that people would laugh at him, because they would believe, that he were the same in everydays life as on screen.To come back to main description:Bulgaria freed from Turkish dominion had to arrange her politics.Land was redistributed between all Bulgarians, inclusive minorities, to equal parts.What followed was everything but equal.Described as Capitalism, society at that time was one of an agrar land.Corruption and manipulion of human rights were the result.Peasants protested, at first using democratic structures, like parliament, then violently, and ended in prisons and hanging, not unlike their forefathers under Turkish dominion.Despotic regimes followed one after the other, and ended finally all sorts of democracy, by forbidding all parties in the country.People, and especially intellectuals, representing a progressive mind, and democratic ideas, like freedom, egalitarian rules of government and liberty,Were looked at by bureaucrats, who had the saying, like hopeless idealists, and dreamers;Sneered at publicly;They espoused poetry to express those ideas;And being driven into disgust, after exposing them;Many resorted to analyzing their opponents;Aleko Konstantinov's Baj Ganjo is an uncompromised, caustic derision of those actors of capitalist Bulgaria.He adopts a very low figure at the same time, avoiding too crude precision about his character, and lending him identity under a small businessman of the countryside.In fact, what he does, is thorough description of effects of excessive industry on personal mind.Psychology was not yet something in use, otherwise, contemporaries would have understood better his purpose.On one side this text has a timeless humoristic dimension;On the other side, it probably applies especially well to nowadays society,Global Village being in hopeless situation, searching one's identity, and ending with excessive crisis in Industry, plundering and exploitation of Earth resources without measure,Not unlike Bulgarian society at that period.

For anyone wanting to understand Bulgarian cultural history, this is the book. Most Bulgarians have read this sometime in their lives. I first read it before going to Bulgaria. Then I read it after being there for six months. That's when the humor struck me. It also impressed me with how important this translation is as a piece of cultural history in a rapidly changing society.

"Classic" in early modern Bulgarian literature - without the introduction and the footnotes, readers without a good grasp of late 19th century Bulgaria social and political conditions would flounder. If you desire some insight to early modern Bulgarian ELITE psyche and grand political machinations, by all means read Bai Ganyo.

It's an item of itself. It's very famous in Bulgaria. It's pretty funny in translation as well.

interesting look at how bulgarians look at themselves looking at the world.

Interesting read, it was a must read for any Bulgarian growing up according to my wife. Not sure why, to me, Bai Ganyo was nothing but a hustler and charlatan...

Great book

This is a Bulgarian classic, a great and funny caricature of a nation by the great writer Aleko Konstantinov. I had been looking for an English translation of the book forever to give as a present and finally found it. The book came quickly and in great condition. Would recommend for anyone interested in learning a bit more about Bulgarian culture and history in with a funny twist.

Excellente traduction de ce classique d' Aleko Konstantinov. Le personnage de Gai Banyo, vendeur de l'huile de rose toujours à l'affût d'un repas gratuit, est raconté par differents personnages à travers des anecdotes drôles et rocambolesques. Personnage rencontré dans un autre livre du même auteur, To Chicago and Back, qui raconte le voyage de l'auteur à Chicago pour l'exposition universelle à la fin du 19 ème siecle et dont certains impressions et commentaires sur l'Amérique de l'époque sont toujours pertinentes!

Bought this for my future mother in law as this is one of the most iconic Bulgarian characters. It's apparently a bit hard to read and follow so I'm assuming its magic has been lost a bit in translation. Nonetheless an excellent piece of literature