A BOOK ABOUT THE INDEPENDENCE OF BULGARIA WAS PRESENTED IN THE REGIONAL LIBRARY

         The book “The Independence of 1908 in Bulgarian Press” was presented on the last for this year Friday readings. Compiler of the book is Milen Kumanov- senior research associate. The collection of documents includes historical records, directing our attention to the spontaneous events, preceding and proclaiming the independence of Bulgaria – the diplomatic scandal with the Bulgarian representative in Istanbul Ivan St. Geshov /August 30, 1902/ and the occupation of the Eastern railways, located on the territory of Bulgaria /September 1908/. The largest part in the book is about the reaction of Bulgarian political press concerning the proclaiming of the independence. The compiler wrote name and geographical indexes. The edition is a very valuable reference book not only about the event itself but also about the political history of Bulgaria in the beginning of 20 century.

         The premiere of the book in S liven was on December 18, 2008 /this time on Thursday as an exception/ in 17.00 in Reading-room № 2 of the regional library.

         Milen Kumanov was born in 1942 in Pishtigovo village. He graduated Sofia University, master of history, second specialty Bulgarian language and literature. He specialized in Archival science and bibliography. Kumanov is a senior research associate II class, doctor in history. He worked in the period of 1965-1967 as an inspector in the Regional council of Sliven and a methodologist in the Regional library „Georgi Kirkov” /„Sava Dobroplodni” regional library today/.  More than 40 years he worked in the Institute of history at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. The collection “Clio” was published this year in honour of his 65-years anniversary.

         Besides his lecturer’s activity, the academic career of Milen Kumanov relates to books and works about the politics on the Balkans of the first Bulgarian accord government in 1923-1926 and the recovery of the diplomatic relations between Bulgaria and Turkey in this period; Problems of the Bulgarian national question after the Liberation of Bulgaria until 1944. Kumanov is the author of numerous monographs, studies and articles about tsar Ferdinand, Alexander Malinov, Vasil Drumev – metropolitan bishop of Tarnovo,  Alexander Stamboliiski, doctor Stoyan Danev and Dragan Tsankov as they were born in Shumen – builders of modern Bulgaria; about Rayko Daskalov and the defense of Bulgarian national interests, about Petar Gabrovski.

         The personal archives of Stefan Stambolov in 20 volumes and an album compiled and published by Milen Kumanov /in cooperation with Dr. Dimitar Ivanov/ are his most important work. He worked also on topics, related to political parties, organizations and movements in Bulgaria and their leaders (1879-1949) – presented in Short historical reference book, also Bulgarian –Turkish relations in the World War I.

         Milen Kumanov is a scientist who does not show off his scientific publications. But about the people who know him at shorter range he is a distinguished historian, research-worker and a promoter of important topics, concerning the modern Bulgarian history.