12 Facts About Hristo Smirnenski

Hristo Dimitrov Izmirliev, known as Hristo Smirnenski, was a Bulgarian poet and prose writer who joined the Bulgarian Communist Party and whose works championed socialist ideals in a light-hearted and humane style.

Hristo Smirnenski died at the age of 24, leaving a well regarded body of work produced over a mature career of only three years.

Hristo Smirnenski was born Hristo Izmirliev, in 1898, in Kukush in Macedonia, which had militant traditions and an enterprising population.

On October 8,1912, when Hristo Smirnenski was 14 years old, the First Balkan War started, and Bulgarian troops left Kukush.

Hristo Smirnenski attended a technical school and his younger brother Anastas helped the family by selling newspapers.

Hristo Smirnenski first called himself "Smirnenski" in the magazine Smyah i salzi.

In May 1917, Hristo Smirnenski enrolled as a cadet at the Military School, and from his barracks continued to write daily and publish humorous publications.

Hristo Smirnenski witnessed the bloodiest clash near Sugar Factory, in Sofia.

In November 1919, Hristo Smirnenski was published in the Communist Party's weekly literary magazine Red Laughter.

Hristo Smirnenski participated in demonstrations and rallies for causes such as requesting amnesty for convicted soldiers, and improving the material condition of workers.

Hristo Smirnenski had followed political events and kept his faith, optimism, and sense of humor right until his last breath.

Hristo Smirnenski was lauded by left-leaning literary critics for championing socialist ideals in his works, and by certain of the modern conservative literary circles as the author of "Applied Poetry".