- Bay Ganyo
Bay Ganyo ( _bg. Бай Ганьо, IPA: ; also transliterated as "Bai Ganio" or "Baj Ganjo") is a
fictional character created byBulgaria n authorAleko Konstantinov (1863–1897). He is at present considered an exemplary image of an anti-hero: uneducated, ignorant, egoistic. Sometimes perceived as an ethnic stereotype of the uneducated, profit-driven and oriental Bulgarian and indeed the average Balkan person, he is often seen merely as a social stereotype, a member of thePrincipality of Bulgaria 's newly-formed lowerbourgeoisie ."Bay" is a Bulgarian honorary title to refer to older or more influential persons: the character's first name is Ganyo, and his family name has been attested as either Ganyo Somov or Ganyo Balkanski. Bay Ganyo is the protagonist of a
novel -like series of satiricalfeuilleton s by Aleko Konstantinov. The first part of the series tells of Bay Ganyo's journeys to variousEurope an cities and compares the character's culture to that of their residents. The second part satirizes the political problems of the day of the post-Liberation Bulgarian society in the late 19th century.The character has been a subject of films picturing his adventures in Bulgaria and Western Europe which were largely based on the original literary work of Aleko Konstantinov. Konstantinov was inspired to create Bay Ganyo during a visit to Chicago's
World's Columbian Exposition in 1893. Debuting in the cinemas in a silent short of 1922, Bay Ganyo was the subject of a full-lengthfeature film by Ivan Nichev in 1991; the character was played byGeorgi Kaloyanchev .Bay Ganyo has been likened in importance and symbolism for the
Bulgarians to Švejk for theCzechs ,Tartarin of Tarascon for the French andOstap Bender for theRussians . [cite news|url=http://www.public-republic.com/magazine/2008/07/1801.php|title=В края на краищата всеки е чужденец… някъде|last=Журкова|first=Сашка|date=2008-07-18|publisher=Public Republic|language=Bulgarian|accessdate=2008-09-29]Feuilletons
The collection of feuilletons consists of two parts. Each feuilleton is presented by a different narrator, a member of a group of like-minded Bulgarians telling of Bay Ganyo's adventures; this group of narrators is itself a direct opposition to Bay Ganyo: they are educated, courteous and civilized people with
Europe an manners and clothing."Bay Ganyo goes around Europe"
The first part tells of the retail
rose oil merchant Bay Ganyo's travels around Europe, seeking to sell his produce. Theprototype of the character was a real person whom Konstantinov met during his journey to theUnited States described in "To Chicago and Back ". Bay Ganyo is compared to the residents of the countries he visits (Austria-Hungary ,German Empire ,Russia ,Switzerland , etc.) to contrast him in a funny but unsympathetic way. Bay Ganyo is simple-minded, swindling, speculating and manipulating, yet tenacious, struggling and breaking-through.* "Beginning"
* "Bay Ganyo travels" (throughBudapest toVienna )
* "Bay Ganyo at theopera (in Vienna)"
* "Bay Ganyo at thepublic baths "
* "Bay Ganyo inDresden "
* "Bay Ganyo at thePrague Exhibition" (throughSerbia to Prague)
* "Bay Ganyo stays with Jireček"
* "Bay Ganyo on a visit" (in Prague)
* "Bay Ganyo inSwitzerland "
* "Bay Ganyo inRussia "Political feuilletons
The second part consists of several independent feuilletons and deals with the new major bourgeoisie and Bulgaria's political life. Bay Ganyo is not a petty rose oil dealer anymore, but a big-time politician who writes a petition to the Prince, runs for
National Assembly of Bulgaria member, issues a political newspaper. Instead of working alone as in the first part, Bay Ganyo is the leader of a group of like-minded people propelled by mean acts.* "Bay Ganyo comes back from Europe"
* "Bay Ganyo organizeselection s"
* "Bay Ganyo is a journalist"
* "Bay Ganyo at the palace"
* "Bay Ganyo in the deputation"
* "Bay Ganyo and the opposition — no way"
* "Association ofTeetotalism "
* "Letter from Bay Ganyo toKonstantin Velichkov "
* "Out of Bay Ganyo Balkanski's correspondence"References
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*External links
* [http://www.slovo.bg/showwork.php3?AuID=169&WorkID=4673&Level=1 Full collection of Bay Ganyo works] at Slovo.bg bg icon
* [http://www.vagabond-bg.com/?page=fun&sub=3&open_news=913 Who is Bay Ganyo? What foreigners in Bulgaria think]
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