Nacho Christoscov, Editor, CG Danov Publishing-Reviews
An incredibly prophetic novel about war. Chernozemsky’s brilliant writing talent achieves a remarkably powerful artistic impact over the reader.


Dorothy W. Milner, Columnist and Critic
It has everything; love, hate, adventure, the glory and tragedy of human existence, and is pertinent to today’s events.


Mary Dawn Gladson, Author, "Feel Your Life Change"
A gripping folk-story authenticated by history, at once romantic, naturalistic, lyrical…an adventure you will not want to miss.


Book Description
Trouble in the Balkans, the "Powder Keg of Europe" –- Prolific Bulgarian-American author, Vladimir Chernozemsky, takes us back to the bloody Balkan War in his most personal novel. The Ottoman Turks had occupied and oppressed the Balkans for five centuries until Bulgaria and its neighbors drove them out (and then fought over the liberated territories). It was a devastating war that still reverberates today in ongoing conflicts in the Balkans and Middle East (the old Ottoman Empire). Based on the author’s family diaries, this is the ultra-realistic story of the Balkan War, the people who lived and fought it…


About the Author
Born in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, VLADIMIR CHERNOZEMSKY came under intense political scrutiny while working as a documentary director and poet in Sofia. With Communist State Security agents after him for espionage, Vladimir made a harrowing escape to the West. From then on he was constantly on the move -- Paris, Rome, Casablanca, Algiers -- eventually receiving asylum and citizenship in the U.S. Vladimir is the author of 44 novels, plays and screenplays written by him in five different languages. Vladimir is also known for his translations of other works, and as an actor, painter and film/stage director. He has advanced degrees in Drama/Film from the DEFA in Berlin, Comparative Literature from La Sorbonne in Paris, and Film Directing from Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia in Rome. He currently resides and works in Los Angeles, California.

SYNOPSIS

Trouble in the Balkans, the "Powder Keg of Europe" -- Prolific Bulgarian-American author, Vladimir Chernozemsky, takes us back to the bloody Balkan War in his most personal novel. The Ottoman Turks had occupied and oppressed the Balkans for five centuries until Bulgaria and its neighbors drove them out (and then fought over the liberated territories). It was a devastating war that still reverberates today in ongoing conflicts in the Balkans and Middle East (the old Ottoman Empire). Based on the author's family diaries, this is the ultra-realistic story of the Balkan War, the people who lived and fought it...

FROM THE CRITICS

Heather Froeschl - BookReview.com, 2004

An accounting you will not soon forget. This epic novel tells of the lives behind the Balkan War...from the highest Bulgarian royalty to the simple houseboy. The dialogues flow naturally, the author's descriptions enchant the tale. For an understanding of our world's war history, insight into today's conflicts, and a story that exudes the realities of living, this should be on your "to-read" list. Includes maps and a list of characters.

Nacho Christoscov - Editor, CG Danov Publishing-Reviews

An incredibly prophetic novel. As a grandson of the novel's legendary hero, the author tells his story without gimmicks, based firmly on personal archives of his grandfather. Thanks to Chernozemsky's brilliant writing talent, he achieves a remarkably powerful artistic impact over the reader. Lion of the Balkans rightfully takes its place amidst the best of historic romantic novels about war.

Dorothy W. Milner - Columnist and Critic

Lion of the Balkans has everything - love, hate, adventure, the glory and tragedy of human existence. The novel brings an historical period to life, yet is pertinent to today's events -- the ongoing turmoil has distinct similarities to the Bulgarian-Turkish war. The story makes a most cogent plea for humanity to be just that - humane. It is a book for the ages.

Mary Dawn Gladson - Author, Feel Your Life Change