Dimitâr Dimovin Tupakkaa ristiriitojen romaanina : bulgarialaisen kriisin horjutetut kuvat

Abstract

This research concerns two differing editions (1951 and 1953) of the Bulgarian Dimitâr Dimov's novel Tjutjun (Tobacco) and their reception during the last 40 years. The frameworks for this study are reception theory, literary history, comparativism, political science and psychology. Dimov's modern way of handling a traumatic topic (the destruction of the capitalist class and the formation of a socialist state in Bulgaria) caused public disagreements which were troublesome for the totalitarian state and which the "leadership" of the party solved. Dimov was forced to write another edition in which he tried to adapt it according to the directions given to him. In the new edition, the contradiction between a heroic epic synthesis and a psychological portrait is readily apparent. In addition, the authenticity of the picture that was conveyed about the historical period of transition turned out to be problematic. The state propaganda machinery had to resort to public campaigns to be sure of the "correct" way of reading. It was only in 1992 that the first edition of Tjutjun was reprinted and its merits were acknowledged. After the archives were opened it became possible to further research the whole process in which the author, the work of art, the conveyer, and the receiver all played a part. Changes in reception cannot simply be explained by the political situation, but there are more universal factors in the background. For instance, similar changes can be detected in the reception of Väinö Linna's works in Finland. However, matching changes in Bulgaria have been slower to develop because of the circumstances. The direction of the shifts in reception can partly be interpreted within a theory of crisis. The different stages in managing a national crisis seem to have parallels in literature itself (genres and their aesthetics), and in how literature is received.