A Hundred Shades of Blue

Yura Konstantinova argues that even during the period of the sharpest confrontation between Bulgarians and Greeks—from the mid-nineteenth to the mid-twentieth century—their mutual perceptions were not purely hostile but marked by ambivalence. Although political conflicts strongly shaped public attitudes, some Bulgarian and Greek intellectuals were able to move beyond dominant political narratives. The study examines the views of Bulgarian scholars, artists, and diplomats whose perspectives often differed from the propaganda imposed for political reasons. It also places these perceptions in the broader context of Greek views of Bulgaria and the Bulgarians, which provide an essential background for understanding the dynamics of mutual representation. In doing so, the book highlights the potential role of intellectuals in fostering understanding between nations often seen as historical adversaries.