Elin Pelin Biography

Elin Pelin was a Bulgarian novelist whose work helped bring his country's literary tradition to the world. He was born to a large family in a small village near Sofia, Bulgaria, during a critical time in European history. The second Industrial Revolution was disrupting many long-held traditions and changing the landscape, (both literally and figuratively) as well as society. He started writing from an early age and studied to become a teacher. He taught for a short time before his first book got published, which was received well by critics. Thereafter, he moved to the city of Sofia to become a librarian there. In addition to his time as a librarian, he edited and contributed to several magazines and continued writing fiction, producing his most well-known works, including several books, short stories and children's literature. His primary focus was detailing life in the countryside in its actual form - he is noted for his vivid descriptions and evocative portraits of pastoral living. He tackled the friction between traditional country living and the new industrial standards imposing on this lifestyle. His legacy extends far beyond his time - his works have been tapped for multiple films and his name has been immortalized as a town in Bulgaria and a landmark in Europe have adopted his namesake