In a series of posts Panitza library will share the University research. The aim of these series is to highlight the accomplishments of AUBG faculty and make their works more visible.
Panitza Library is pleased to announce a new publication by Prof. Simeon Simeonov:
Симеонов, С. (2024). Франсиско де Миранда на Балканите: Раждането на идеята за независимост на Латинска Америка [Francisco de Miranda in the Balkans: The Birth of the Idea of Latin American Independence] (2nd ed.). Издателство „Фабер.“
The Venezuelan Francisco de Miranda (1750–1816) is one of the most renowned revolutionaries in world history. He sided with the rebels in the American War of Independence (1776–1783) and the French Revolution (1789–1799), and in his later years led the revolution in Latin America (1808–1825). His biographers portray him as a resolute opponent of absolutism and a fervent supporter of the Enlightenment, who eagerly embraced the revolutionary demands for liberty, fraternity, and equality. Are these interpretations of Miranda as a consummate revolutionary convincing, and how can we explain his transformation from a privileged colonial elite to a pioneer of Latin American independence? This book sheds light on a little-studied period of his biography – his Balkan odyssey of 1786 – uncovering in it the seeds of his revolutionary transformation, and thus a turning point in the global Age of Revolutions. By delving deeply into his colorful diaries and situating his Balkan experiences within a broader historical context, the book offers a fresh and detailed interpretation of how Ottoman rule, local customs and culture, religious beliefs, ancient landmarks, and diplomatic networks influenced the emerging political ideology of this Latin American Creole.
Explore Prof. Simeonov’s bibliography page here.
