A Concise History of Bulgaria by R.J. Crampton

A Concise History of Bulgaria Reviews

• 
  Dave

  I read this book because my son's girlfriend is from Bulgaria and I didn't know much about the country. I got it from her for Christmas. I learned some things like the Balkan Mountains are in Bulgaria, it is at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, and the capitol is Sofia. It has changed its borders many times and its history was a little hard to follow since I knew so little about it before I read it and because it always seemed to.be at the mercy of its neighbors like Turkey and Russia. I will probably have to read it again. I did learn that family is very important to Bulgarians and it is important to me too.
• 
  Nathan Albright

  This is the sort of book I expect very people to read for fun, but is precisely the sort of book I read for fun.  Although I am by no means an expert on the history of Bulgaria [1], its history is a subject of interest to me and it is a place I would like to travel eventually.  There is a certain degree of poignancy in the situation of Bulgaria, from its prehistory with early cities that were destroyed leaving no written records of their inhabitants or how they lived or what they thought, to its position as a border region for the Greeks, Romans, Byzantine Empire, even up to Cold War politics, to its struggle to regain territory lost through previous wars and to get along with its neighbors.  There is a great deal in Bulgarian history that is deeply intriguing and highly melancholy, and that sort of concern for a territory on the edge with a history it is bravely (if so far vainly) trying to overcome is precisely the sort of thing that would strike me of interest, and so even though this is an obscure work, it is definitely one I appreciated reading.
  
  This particular volume is concise at around 250 pages or so, and is divided into nine chapters.  After a list of illustrations, preface in which the author wishes he had more space to write, and a note on the book's transliteration, the book, aside from two appendices that show Bulgarian monarchs and prime ministers, respectively, and suggestions for further reading and an index, contains nine chapters.  The author begins with a very brief survey of the Bulgarian lands from pre-history to the arrival of the Bulgarians (1), before spending twice as much space talking about medieval Bulgaria's history up to the Ottoman conquest (2).  After that there is a discussion of Ottoman rule and its horrors and problems (3) before the national revival and liberation of Bulgaria in the late 19th century (4).  After this there is a discussion of the consolidation of the Bulgarian state (5), the personal rule of King Ferdinand that concluded with a disastrous defeat in World War I (6), Bulgaria in the interwar period and during World War II where it also found itself on the losing side (7), before a history of Bulgaria under communist rule (8) and the post-Communist period up to the book's writing (9).
  
  Bulgaria's history has a profoundly melancholy edge that is important to realize.  During its entire history it has found itself looked down upon by its neighbors in Greece and Anatolia, frequently under some sort of foreign domination, and had its distinctive culture denied by others.  It has sought to return to some sort of past glory only to find itself frequently politically divided and unable to bring its greater ethnic area under its rule.  It has sought to be free of foreign domination only to find itself unable to provide for the well-being of its people and deeply divided internally between town and country, right and left, and more centralizing and regionally focused tendencies.  Although this book certainly focuses a lot on matters of political (and to a lesser extent military) history, there is still a lot here to appreciate for those who want to know the struggles and difficulties and triumphs of the Bulgarian people through centuries of difficulty and frequent misadventures by their rulers, who appear far more ambitious than their nation's modest economic and demographic strength would apparently justify.  If you want a short volume to read about the history of an obscure European nation, this book will definitely do the trick nicely.
  
  [1] See, for example:
  
  
  https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...
  
  
  https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...
  
  
  https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2014...
  
  
  https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2011...
• 
  Zen Cho

  Read before/during trip to Bulgaria. Useful introduction to Bulgarian history, written in a transparent style. I kind of lost interest with all the political stuff -- X trying to get rid of Y, and parties A, B, C and their struggles -- but you did kind of have to know it to make sense of the history, I guess. Anyway, definitely helped give me an idea of what had been going on in the region, and it was a lot less dry than I thought it would be.
• 
  Mart

  Don't really understand all the bad reviews for this one, but it is a very interesting read. Obviously something a bit too simplistic about events, but that why it's a 'concise history'. Anyway, what to catch up on your Bulgarian knowledge? This is a good start!
• 
  David

  I really wonderful attempt to sum up Bulgarian history in 243 pages which for the most part succeeds in it's attempt.
  
  It is well written and easy to follow, but it is recommended to have Wikipedia on hand to fill in the blanks where necessary. The core work stretches from early human occupation right through to the past decade.
  
  The book also features lots of photos and pictures to add context to the text.
  
  Not the most comprehensive history in the world, but highly recommended for those wanting simple history of a fascinating country.
• 
  Linda Street-Ely

  Agree with other reviewers. Lots of information packed in here. I wish I could remember it all, but with so many names and such a complex history, it was hard just to remember from one page to the next. What I do retain, however, is quite valuable, and overall, the history seems to explain why Bulgarians are the way they are, in general. But isn't that true of all nations?
• 
  Simon

  Really nice read.
• 
  Geoffrey Rose

  The version I read was updated about 6 or 7 years ago.
  
  A decent if dry political history of Bulgaria for the general reader. I would have liked more on social or cultural topics but alas that wasn't the author's mission here.
  
  Recommended but it's not exactly a riveting read. Just the facts in a straightforward and coherent narrative.
• 
  Peter

  Drudging at certain points, but quite informative. This book accomplishes exactly what it's meant to accomplish: Provide a concise history of the country.
• 
  Marquina

  Dense.
• 
  Jason Islas

  Dry but full of delicious, delicious facts.
• 
  Patrick Cook

  Admirably clear, and — indeed — concise. The original edition (which is what I read first) was written in 1997 and is inevitably dated. Happily, I was able to access a digital version the second edition through my alma mater, and was thus able to continue the story through such important events as the Kostov and Saxe-Coburg-Gotha government (the latter of which must be one of the more improbable political events of the Post-Communist era, seeing the former Tsar Simeon II return as a democratic politician, governing through liberal coalition with a party representing the Turkish minority), and the entry into Nato and the EU.