Summary
In the tumultuous landscape of post-Ottoman Bulgaria, the infamous Bay Ganyo Balkanski embodies the duplicitous nature of the burgeoning bourgeoisie, his name becoming synonymous with the negative attributes of this newly formed class. As a cunning political double-dealer, Bay Ganyo joins forces with the affluent Filyo Gochoglu and the enterprising Tanas Dochoglu to launch a candidature for the National Assembly, supplementing their campaign with the establishment of the 'National Glory' newspaper. However, his penchant for women proves to be a vulnerability, which the opposition exploits by dispatching a decoy to the editorial office, disguised as a woman, in an attempt to discredit him. Upon discovering the ruse, Bay Ganyo chases the imposter away, only to later resort to more unscrupulous tactics, enlisting the help of the scoundrel Danko Hairsazina and his cohorts to intimidate voters and sway the election in their favor. Following this maelstrom of political and social upheaval, Bay Ganyo elects to embark on a grand tour of Europe, shouldering his trusty saddlebags replete with phials of attar of roses, and arrives in the cosmopolitan city of Vienna. There, he encounters a compatriot, Stoycho, who assumes the role of his guide, and together they navigate the city's vibrant cafes, indulge in sightseeing, and partake in leisurely train rides around the Prater, all while Bay Ganyo continues to pursue his amorous interests, leaving a trail of escapades in his wake before ultimately returning to Bulgaria.
Synopsis
The name of the literary character Bay Ganyo has come to symbolize the negative features of the newly created Bulgarian bourgeoisie after the liberation from Ottoman bondage. Bay Ganyo Balkanski is a political double-dealer. Together with Filyo Gochoglu - "a merchant with capital" and Tanas Dochoglu - "a wine merchant" the three put forward their candidatures for members of the National Assembly. They launch the "National Glory" newspaper. Bay Ganyo has a soft spot for women and the opposition takes advantage of this to discredit him. They send to the editorial office an accomplice disguised as a woman who begins to flirt with Ganyo. Having discovered the fraud, he chases 'her' away. With the help of the scoundrel Danko Hairsazina and the shady characters led by him, Balkanski, Gochoglu and Dochoglu manage to frighten away those voting for the other candidates... After this stormy political and social struggle, Bay Ganyo decides to journey through Europe. Shouldering his saddlebags filled with phials of attar of roses he gets on the train. He arrives in Vienna. He does not let the hotel bellhop carry his precious luggage. In the café, he finds Stoycho, a Bulgarian who acts as his guide. Ganyo keep making passes at the women in the streets and in the cafés. Together with Stoycho, they ride on a train around the Prater, go sightseeing, and have a snack at the food of Maria Theresa's monument paying no attention to the passer-by. After a series of similar escapades, Bay Ganyo returns to Bulgaria.
