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Cut-out detail; background removed. Ivan Vazov. Archival portrait, date unknown.
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Under the Yoke

Ivan Vazov · Revival

Why did Vazov write Under the Yoke far from home?

Why does Vazov begin Under the Yoke in Odesa?

9 scenes · 3 min · Sources · 20

StartListen

Vazov begins Under the Yoke in Odesa. A family supper and a school examination introduce Byala Cherkva before the uprising. Later, the novel helps people reconstruct his birth house.

Ivan Vazov. Archival portrait, date unknown.
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Part 1 · Revival

Vazov writes far from home

In Odesa, Ivan Vazov starts a novel about people back home. It is 1887. He is a political exile: he has left Bulgaria because people with his views face persecution. Vazov supports close relations with Russia. At home, those relations are the subject of a bitter political argument.

Years later, he recalls how much he missed Bulgaria. Writing brought Sopot’s courtyards and people back to his mind. This is how the author later described his inspiration. It is a recollection, recorded long after the work.

Listen to scene · 1

Synthetic voice · 0:33
Sources · 1
  1. Илия Тодоров Из биографията на романа „Под игото“ (По повод на неговата стогодишнина) PDF Литературна мисъл · 1990 · 54–68
Geographic context, without historical bordersGeographic context, without historical borders123
Geographic context, without historical borders

Part 2 · Revival

Sopot, Odesa and London

The map marks three cities. Sopot is Vazov’s hometown. Odesa is the city of exile where he begins the novel. London will be the city of the early English edition. These are approximate city markers, not addresses of rooms or printing houses.

Inside the book, the main town is called Byala Cherkva. Vazov draws on memories of Sopot. This is a fictional world, rather than an exact plan of the real town.

Listen to scene · 2

Synthetic voice · 0:26
Sources · 6
  1. Илия Тодоров Из биографията на романа „Под игото“ (По повод на неговата стогодишнина) PDF Литературна мисъл · 1990 · 54–68
  2. Владимир Трендафилов Английският Вазов: преводачът на „Под игото“ / Vazov Anglicized: Who Translated Under the Yoke? PDF Литературна мисъл · 2015 · 31–45
  3. Balázs Trencsényi and Michal Kopeček (eds.); entry signed BM (Boyan Manchev) Ivan Vazov: Under the yoke PDF Discourses of Collective Identity in Central and Southeast Europe (1770–1945), vol. II: National Romanticism — The Formation of National Movements. Budapest/New York: CEU Press · 2007 · 87–93
  4. Wikimedia geographical database contributors Sopot: geographical record
  5. Wikimedia geographical database contributors Odesa: geographical record
  6. Wikimedia geographical database contributors London: geographical record
Joseph Oberbauer: Marko and his family, 1894. Illustration, not a photograph of an event.
Drawing

Part 3 · Revival

Marko’s supper

The novel opens with Marko’s family having supper in their courtyard. “Chorbaji” is an old title for a prosperous man. Joseph Oberbauer’s picture shows a group of people, a low table and a lantern. It is an illustration from 1894, not a photograph of an actual supper.

From this everyday setting, the novel leads towards preparations for the April Uprising. This was a revolt against Ottoman rule in 1876. The Ottoman Empire was the state ruling these lands at the time. The historical uprising was suppressed.

1 · Lantern
A lantern is drawn above the table. It is part of the illustration, not an object preserved from the supper.
2 · Low table
The table brings the family together. The novel opens with Marko’s courtyard supper.
3 · Signature and year
At bottom right are Oberbauer’s signature and the year 1894. The artist depicts a scene from a novel.

Listen to scene · 3

Synthetic voice · 0:33
Sources · 3
  1. Иван Вазов; digital text entered by Plovdiv University team, hosted by Моята библиотека Под игото Словото / Моята библиотека, primary literary text · 1894
  2. Йозеф Обербауер File:Чорбаджи Марко.jpg Wikimedia Commons
  3. Balázs Trencsényi and Michal Kopeček (eds.); entry signed BM (Boyan Manchev) Ivan Vazov: Under the yoke PDF Discourses of Collective Identity in Central and Southeast Europe (1770–1945), vol. II: National Romanticism — The Formation of National Movements. Budapest/New York: CEU Press · 2007 · 87–93
Museum arrangement with textiles and vessels. These have not been established as the writer’s personal possessions. This is not Rada’s classroom.

Part 4 · Revival

Who helps the frightened children?

In the chapter Rada’s Troubles, the teacher Rada brings her pupils to an annual examination. An audience watches them. Stefchov asks questions that confuse them. Ognyanov is a character in the novel. He steps in and asks clearer questions. The children manage to answer.

We can read the scene this way: support helps the children overcome their fear.

Listen to scene · 4

Synthetic voice · 0:21
Sources · 4
  1. Иван Вазов; digital text entered by Plovdiv University team, hosted by Моята библиотека Под игото Словото / Моята библиотека, primary literary text · 1894
  2. Министерство на образованието и науката Модел на националното външно оценяване по български език и литература в VII клас през учебната –2024 година PDF МОН · 2023
  3. Нов български университет; Университетски театър; департамент „Театър“ „Театрална совалка “ — online представя: „Под игото. Под карантина“ NBU News · 2020
  4. vislupus File:House-Museum of Ivan Vazov 02.jpg Wikimedia Commons

Part 5 · Revival

Activity: what does the picture establish?

What is the picture of the family supper?

  1. An illustration for the novel.
  2. A photograph of Marko’s actual supper.
  3. A photograph of Rada’s examination.
Why is that?

Oberbauer depicts a literary scene. His signature and the year appear on the image.

Correct · An illustration for the novel.

  1. Йозеф Обербауер File:Чорбаджи Марко.jpg Wikimedia Commons
  2. Иван Вазов; digital text entered by Plovdiv University team, hosted by Моята библиотека Под игото Словото / Моята библиотека, primary literary text · 1894

Listen to scene · 5

Synthetic voice · 0:02
Sources · 2
  1. Йозеф Обербауер File:Чорбаджи Марко.jpg Wikimedia Commons
  2. Иван Вазов; digital text entered by Plovdiv University team, hosted by Моята библиотека Под игото Словото / Моята библиотека, primary literary text · 1894
Title page of Under the Yoke, Sofia, 1894.
Archive

Part 6 · Revival

A book with two different dates

The novel appears in instalments in 1889–1890. Vazov is still completing it after returning to Bulgaria. Because of eye trouble, he dictates the continuation to his brother Boris. In 1894 Chipev publishes the separate Bulgarian book.

The English book appears in London in late 1893, although it bears the date 1894. Translations carry the story to people who cannot read Bulgarian.

1 · The title
The title uses older Bulgarian spelling. Here we can read “yoke” as an image of Ottoman rule.
2 · Second edition
This says Second edition. The novel first appeared in parts in a publication called the Collection.
3 · Sofia, 1894
The bottom names Sofia, publisher Chipev and 1894. This is the Bulgarian book, not the English translation.

Listen to scene · 6

Synthetic voice · 0:28
Sources · 5
  1. Илия Тодоров Из биографията на романа „Под игото“ (По повод на неговата стогодишнина) PDF Литературна мисъл · 1990 · 54–68
  2. Владимир Трендафилов Английският Вазов: преводачът на „Под игото“ / Vazov Anglicized: Who Translated Under the Yoke? PDF Литературна мисъл · 2015 · 31–45
  3. Иван Вазов; Столична библиотека Под игото Дигитална платформа „Сердика“; София: Т. Ф. Чипев · 1894 · 512 с., 25 л.
  4. OCLC WorldCat; Ivan Vazov; V. Andreev; Louis Léger Sous le joug turc (Pod Igoto): roman de la vie des Bulgares à la veille de leur libération WorldCat catalogue, OCLC 26248388; Paris: H. Jouve · 1897
  5. Unknown author File:Под игото Титул.jpg Wikimedia Commons

Part 7 · Revival

Activity: put the events in order

Put these events in order, earliest first.

  1. April Uprising
  2. Starts the novel in Odesa
  3. Separate Bulgarian book
Why is that?

The uprising comes before the writing. The separate book follows the start of composition.

Correct order

  1. April Uprising
  2. Starts the novel in Odesa
  3. Separate Bulgarian book
  1. Balázs Trencsényi and Michal Kopeček (eds.); entry signed BM (Boyan Manchev) Ivan Vazov: Under the yoke PDF Discourses of Collective Identity in Central and Southeast Europe (1770–1945), vol. II: National Romanticism — The Formation of National Movements. Budapest/New York: CEU Press · 2007 · 87–93
  2. Илия Тодоров Из биографията на романа „Под игото“ (По повод на неговата стогодишнина) PDF Литературна мисъл · 1990 · 54–68
  3. Иван Вазов; Столична библиотека Под игото Дигитална платформа „Сердика“; София: Т. Ф. Чипев · 1894 · 512 с., 25 л.
  4. Цветанка Неделчева; Къща музей „Иван Вазов“, Сопот Къща музей Иван Вазов — История vazovmuseum.com; museum leaflet, Sofia · 2009

Listen to scene · 7

Synthetic voice · 0:03
Sources · 4
  1. Balázs Trencsényi and Michal Kopeček (eds.); entry signed BM (Boyan Manchev) Ivan Vazov: Under the yoke PDF Discourses of Collective Identity in Central and Southeast Europe (1770–1945), vol. II: National Romanticism — The Formation of National Movements. Budapest/New York: CEU Press · 2007 · 87–93
  2. Илия Тодоров Из биографията на романа „Под игото“ (По повод на неговата стогодишнина) PDF Литературна мисъл · 1990 · 54–68
  3. Иван Вазов; Столична библиотека Под игото Дигитална платформа „Сердика“; София: Т. Ф. Чипев · 1894 · 512 с., 25 л.
  4. Цветанка Неделчева; Къща музей „Иван Вазов“, Сопот Къща музей Иван Вазов — История vazovmuseum.com; museum leaflet, Sofia · 2009
Courtyard of the reconstructed house museum in Sopot. Modern photograph.
Sopot house museum. Undated archival photograph; it does not establish the appearance before the fire.
Archive
Museum interior with cushions and windows. Individual objects have not been authenticated.
Museum arrangement of hearth, kettle and low table. It is not a photograph of the novel’s supper.
Metal plates on a shelf in a museum interior. Their dates have not been established.

Part 8 · Revival

A house rebuilt after the fire

Vazov’s birth house in Sopot burns down in July 1877. Reconstruction begins in 1931, and the museum opens in 1935.

The rooms are arranged using family accounts and works such as Under the Yoke. Today’s photograph shows the rebuilt home, rather than the untouched house of his childhood.

Listen to scene · 8

Synthetic voice · 0:21
Sources · 6
  1. Цветанка Неделчева; Къща музей „Иван Вазов“, Сопот Къща музей Иван Вазов — История vazovmuseum.com; museum leaflet, Sofia · 2009
  2. vislupus File:House-Museum of Ivan Vazov 22.jpg Wikimedia Commons
  3. Unknown author File:BASA-1399K-1-1853-6-Ivan Vazov's house, Sopot.JPG Wikimedia Commons / Bulgarian Archives State Agency
  4. vislupus File:House-Museum of Ivan Vazov 13.jpg Wikimedia Commons
  5. vislupus File:House-Museum of Ivan Vazov 01.jpg Wikimedia Commons
  6. vislupus File:House-Museum of Ivan Vazov 14.jpg Wikimedia Commons

Part 9 · Revival

Activity: match the people

Match each person to their role in this story.

  1. Ivan Vazov · The writer in Odesa
  2. Rada · The teacher in the novel
  3. Boris · The brother who records the dictation
Why is that?

Vazov creates the novel. Rada is a fictional character. Boris is his real brother, who helps with the writing.

  1. Илия Тодоров Из биографията на романа „Под игото“ (По повод на неговата стогодишнина) PDF Литературна мисъл · 1990 · 54–68
  2. Иван Вазов; digital text entered by Plovdiv University team, hosted by Моята библиотека Под игото Словото / Моята библиотека, primary literary text · 1894
  3. Цветанка Неделчева; Къща музей „Иван Вазов“, Сопот Къща музей Иван Вазов — История vazovmuseum.com; museum leaflet, Sofia · 2009

Listen to scene · 9

Synthetic voice · 0:03
Sources · 3
  1. Илия Тодоров Из биографията на романа „Под игото“ (По повод на неговата стогодишнина) PDF Литературна мисъл · 1990 · 54–68
  2. Иван Вазов; digital text entered by Plovdiv University team, hosted by Моята библиотека Под игото Словото / Моята библиотека, primary literary text · 1894
  3. Цветанка Неделчева; Къща музей „Иван Вазов“, Сопот Къща музей Иван Вазов — История vazovmuseum.com; museum leaflet, Sofia · 2009

A new find for your collection

We can compare the novel and the rebuilt house: both draw on memories.

Hristo Botev · KozloduyThe poet and the steamerSee how people lived and worked in another period.Boyana Church · BoyanaThe faces of BoyanaThe Gospels of Ivan Alexander · LondonThe tsar between the pages

People in this story

Ivan VazovBoris VazovTodor F. ChipevJoseph Oberbauer

Sources

  1. Balázs Trencsényi and Michal Kopeček (eds.); entry signed BM (Boyan Manchev) Ivan Vazov: Under the yoke PDF Discourses of Collective Identity in Central and Southeast Europe (1770–1945), vol. II: National Romanticism — The Formation of National Movements. Budapest/New York: CEU Press · 2007 · 87–93
  2. Wikimedia geographical database contributors London: geographical record
  3. Wikimedia geographical database contributors Odesa: geographical record
  4. Wikimedia geographical database contributors Sopot: geographical record
  5. Иван Вазов; Столична библиотека Под игото Дигитална платформа „Сердика“; София: Т. Ф. Чипев · 1894 · 512 с., 25 л.
  6. OCLC WorldCat; Ivan Vazov; V. Andreev; Louis Léger Sous le joug turc (Pod Igoto): roman de la vie des Bulgares à la veille de leur libération WorldCat catalogue, OCLC 26248388; Paris: H. Jouve · 1897
  7. Unknown author File:BASA-1399K-1-1853-6-Ivan Vazov's house, Sopot.JPG Wikimedia Commons / Bulgarian Archives State Agency
  8. vislupus File:House-Museum of Ivan Vazov 01.jpg Wikimedia Commons
  9. vislupus File:House-Museum of Ivan Vazov 02.jpg Wikimedia Commons
  10. vislupus File:House-Museum of Ivan Vazov 13.jpg Wikimedia Commons
  11. vislupus File:House-Museum of Ivan Vazov 14.jpg Wikimedia Commons
  12. vislupus File:House-Museum of Ivan Vazov 22.jpg Wikimedia Commons
  13. Йозеф Обербауер File:Чорбаджи Марко.jpg Wikimedia Commons
  14. Unknown author File:Под игото Титул.jpg Wikimedia Commons
  15. Министерство на образованието и науката Модел на националното външно оценяване по български език и литература в VII клас през учебната –2024 година PDF МОН · 2023
  16. Цветанка Неделчева; Къща музей „Иван Вазов“, Сопот Къща музей Иван Вазов — История vazovmuseum.com; museum leaflet, Sofia · 2009
  17. Нов български университет; Университетски театър; департамент „Театър“ „Театрална совалка “ — online представя: „Под игото. Под карантина“ NBU News · 2020
  18. Иван Вазов; digital text entered by Plovdiv University team, hosted by Моята библиотека Под игото Словото / Моята библиотека, primary literary text · 1894
  19. Илия Тодоров Из биографията на романа „Под игото“ (По повод на неговата стогодишнина) PDF Литературна мисъл · 1990 · 54–68
  20. Владимир Трендафилов Английският Вазов: преводачът на „Под игото“ / Vazov Anglicized: Who Translated Under the Yoke? PDF Литературна мисъл · 2015 · 31–45

Images

Archive

Unknown author · Public domain · Bulgarian Archives State Agency / Wikimedia Commons

Open source

Full attribution

Unknown author; Bulgarian Archives State Agency / Wikimedia Commons. BASA 937K-1-410-7. Public domain. Crop supplied by Commons; unchanged here. Cut-out detail; background removed. Archival photograph

Archive

Unknown author · Public domain · Bulgarian Archives State Agency / Wikimedia Commons

Open source

Full attribution

Unknown author; Bulgarian Archives State Agency / Wikimedia Commons. BASA 937K-1-410-7. Public domain. Crop supplied by Commons; unchanged here. Processed image. Archival photograph

Drawing

Joseph Oberbauer · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Open source

Full attribution

Joseph Oberbauer (Йозеф Обербауер); Wikimedia Commons. Public domain. File unchanged. Processed image. Illustration

vislupus · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Open source

Full attribution

vislupus; Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 4.0. File unchanged. Processed image.

Archive

Unknown author · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Open source

Full attribution

Unknown author; Wikimedia Commons. Public domain. File unchanged. Processed image. Title page

vislupus · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Open source

Full attribution

vislupus; Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 4.0. File unchanged. Processed image.

Archive

Unknown author · Public domain · Bulgarian Archives State Agency / Wikimedia Commons

Open source

Full attribution

Unknown author; Bulgarian Archives State Agency / Wikimedia Commons. BASA 1399K-1-1853-6. Public domain. File unchanged. Processed image. Archival photograph

vislupus · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Open source

Full attribution

vislupus; Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 4.0. File unchanged. Processed image.

vislupus · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Open source

Full attribution

vislupus; Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 4.0. File unchanged. Processed image.

vislupus · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

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Full attribution

vislupus; Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 4.0. File unchanged. Processed image.

Geographic context, without historical borders

Tom Patterson · Nathaniel Vaughn Kelso · Public domain · Natural Earth

Open source

Full attribution

Tom Patterson · Nathaniel Vaughn Kelso