Historical figure Angel Karaliychev

Angel Ivanov Karaliychev was a Bulgarian writer and translator, born in Strazhitsa in the Veliko Tarnovo region on 21 August 1902. He began his literary career at seventeen with the poem The Eagle in the Ruse magazine Uchenicheska Misal (Students' Thought). He continued writing and worked as an editor for periodicals and publishing houses.

His first book, the revolutionary poem Mauna Loa, appeared in 1923, followed by the story collection Rye in 1924. His first children's book, Mecho (Little Bear), was published in 1925. He edited publications including Kooperativna Prosveta, Narodna Mladezh and Literaturen Front.

His work encompassed stories, travel writing, fairy tales and adaptations of Bulgarian and foreign tales and legends. His books include Gold Coins, Treasure and A Silver Handful of Grain, as well as more than fifteen titles for children and young people, among them Aneto, Toshko the African and The Wheaten Loaf.

He died in Sofia on 14 December 1972. His work remains widely valued and loved. Fairy-Tale World, one of his most popular books, received a posthumous Andersen honorary diploma from the International Board on Books for Young People. The television film Listen to the Stars drew on his story The Blind Fiddler.