New Paths: The Tense 1920s

Chapter 3 examines Bulgaria’s cultural landscape in the 1920s, a decade that passed in the shadow of the punitive 1919 Treaty of Neuilly and several political crises. The chapter discusses the efforts of cultural producers to revive national dignity through democratized arts. An initial postwar optimism saw the post-1878 generation establish several cultural reviews that engaged in passionate debates over literary heritage, national culture, and the artist’s role. Political turmoil—including a coup in 1923, a communist uprising, and an extended period of civil violence—deeply impacted cultural circles. Despite challenges, which included economic difficulties and authoritarian cultural politics, efforts to promote Bulgarian literature and arts continued.