Boyka Ilieva

The Book of Bertoldo and the Functions
of the Laughter during the Bulgarian National Revival

The general public of readers with its patriarchal-folklorist attitude to the world defines the parameters of the literature reception during the Bulgaria National Revival. The public’s interest towards the literature of the people also defines the great popularity of the Book of Bertoldo. The plot of that book describes the ancient fabulous motive about the king and the man of wisdom who gives him advises The main character is a caricature one in which a physical ugliness and ingenious mind contrast against each other. Various cheerful events have been narrated in that book in which the resourceful peasant named Bertoldo manages in an unbelievable way to outwit the king’s entourage and make fools of them.

The novel about Bertoldo defines a new tendency in Bulgarian translation literature during the National Revival. It introduces a new type of main character – an ordinary man from the people, reproduced realistically with all its disadvantages and flaws.