A Short History of Modern Bulgaria by R.J. Crampton


A Short History of Modern Bulgaria
Title : A Short History of Modern Bulgaria
Author :
Rating :
ISBN : 0521253403
ISBN-10 : 9780521253406
Language : English
Format Type : Hardcover
Number of Pages : 221
Publication : First published January 1, 1987

Since the Second World War, Bulgaria has been little known to the outside world. This survey of its history from its liberation from the Ottoman Empire in 1878 to 1985 offers an understanding of the country's present position and the recent past that has shaped it. Dr Crampton begins with a short introduction covering the period of Ottoman rule and then examines the political evolution of the new state. In 1915 the ruler, 'Foxy Ferdinard', chose to join the Germans in the First World War. During the 1920s and early 1930s Bulgaria suffered from political violence, though in the second half of the 1930s stability returned under the strong but not dictatorial rule of King Boris. In 1940 Bulgaria's leaders again chose the wrong side in the Second World War and violence returned as the Communists plotted a bloody path to power. From the mid-1950s the dictatorial rule of Todor Zhivkov ensured stability and, though grave problems remained, the rise in living standards was a considerable achievement.

A Short History of Modern Bulgaria Reviews

  • Bob Newman

    Detailed information about an ignored country

    I bought this book in a second hand bookstore in Edmonton, Alberta in 1991. OK, I was curious, I knew very little about Bulgaria and thought I might read it one day. In 2010 I went on a minor Bulgarian history binge, reading the few books that I bought over the years, and so the day finally arrived when I opened this one. I know that the author has produced another, more recent history of Bulgaria, plus several books on wider Balkan history, so he's certainly an expert. Perhaps, if asked, he would have recommended his "Concise" history. Unfortunately I could not ask and don't own the latter anyway.

    Crampton tells you fair and square at the very outset that he aims to write a political history of Bulgaria between 1878 and 1985. He certainly achieves his goal, so I can't complain. Still, I found SHofMB a colorless recitation of political events in great detail with a lot of social and economic statistics. It is hard, for an amateur like me, to gain an in-depth understanding because he fails to explain some major things, perhaps assuming that his readers will already know. (Though I imagine that Bulgarian history fans are few on the ground in English-speaking countries.) For example, what were the claims of the Macedonians ? why were the Bulgarians so involved in this problem for so long ? how did the Macedonians come to have such power in the country ? What happened to Bulgarians and Bulgaria during WW I and WW II ? Very little detail is given. Personalities play a role in every country's history, but Crampton avoids getting into them. Certain names are mentioned out of the blue. Who were they ? He does not go in for any kind of superlative--his choice to be sure--but it's hard to make out which were the important people in Bulgarian history in that case. Who is remembered ? His heart is in the right place; he does not hesitate to call a spade a spade, shows a love for the country throughout. Good.

    If you want a concise POLITICAL history of Bulgaria 1878-1985, this has to be the book. You might have to "wade through", but it's all there. I've given it three stars, but that's more for readability. The scholarship is excellent. There are no frontier maps to provide beginners with an idea of where the lines were drawn at various stages. I wonder if his later work made up for these lacunae ? I don't know. In 1985, he wrapped up his book with a last sentence, "The power of the Bulgarian Communist Party, however, is hardly likely to be challenged or to diminish." I imagine he regretted these words, but one must say that nobody knew what was coming, that in less than five years it would fall from power.