Tourists love Plovdiv (the second biggest city in Bulgaria) for its Antique Theatre, the Djumayata Mosque (a famous Round square) and Trimonzium (a posh hotel). There's hardly a person who doesn't enjoy the cosy pubs and cobbled streets of the Old Town. But there is a man who presents another touch of Plovdiv's image. He has collected in a book the words and thoughts of the great Plovdiv residents - renowned artists, writers, actors, singers, politicians and champions. Journalist Zdravko Galabov has published three volumes of his "The Faces of Plovdiv" sequence. Except for their personal stories the personages of his work share memories about their friends and relatives.
Focusing on the confessions and fates of eminent people, the book turns into a novel describing the life of Plovdiv city," literary critic Prof. Svetlozar Igov said. "Being a journalist for more than 35 years Zdravko has the good luck to know most of the eminent Plovdiv citizens in person. What is more, he himself is a representative of the legendary Plovdiv Bohemian circle," poet Dobromir Totev said of him. Zdravko could tell interesting stories about his meetings with Georgy Bozhilov - Slona, Prof. Nikolay Genchev and many other colorful figures who are an inseparable part of Plovdiv's public life.
Galabov chose the genre of the interview thus revealing "the faces of Plovdiv" in a most authentic way. Zdravko's criterion when choosing the characters for his book were their talent and contribution to the city. If it weren't for these volumes Plovdiv would have lost the treasure of thoughts of deceased celebrities like director Lyuen Grois, folk singer Nedyalka Keranova and sculptor Dimcho Pavlov.
People like Katia Paskaleva, Andrey Chaprazov, Toma Tomov, Georgy Chapkanov, Lyubisha Georgievski and Nikolay Genchev who have loved and frequented the city also have their place in the book. At present Galabov intends to publish a book in two volumes in both Bulgarian and English language. Its title will be "Plovdiv Faces". The first volume will include the confessions of 40 eminent Plovdiv residents like Tzanko Lavrenov, Koko Azarian, Georgy Bozhilov - Slona, Dimitar Kirov, Ivan Andonov, Dobry Tonev, Hristo Stoichkov, Peter Stoyanov.
In 2002 in his book "Beside the Easel" Galabov presented famous artists. This was the first book President Parvanov bought from the Janet publishing house stand in the National Palace of Culture (NPC) in May last year. At the premiere of "Personal Spaces" (2004) - a volume dedicated to Plovdiv poets - former PM Ivan Kostov and his wife Elena were among the first readers who received the book autographed by the author.
Galabov's day starts with a walk along his "Veliko Tarnovo" street. It's only 500 meters long but this is where genius Boris Hristov was born and this is where artist Encho Pironkov, Countess Broussard and the pioneer of Bulgarian stenography Anton Bezenshak once lived. For a month already Zdravko Galabov and Kamen Kenov, who lives in Switzerland, have been hosting a TV program entitled "Time for Culture". The journalist is working on the memoirs of great Bulgarian actor Andrey Chaprazov and helps in the publishing of eminent composer Nikolay Stoykov's memoirs. The many-sided occupations of Zdravko Galabov include a film dedicated to the Union of the Southern Bulgaria with the Bulgarian Kingdom in 1885.
From: standartnews.com