The Iron Candlestick


The Iron Candlestick is a Bulgarian historical novel by Dimitar Talev. It is the first book of the famous tetralogy, originally published in 1952.
The novel reflects the struggle for political and religious independence of the Bulgarians in the early 19th century.
It was loosely adapted into the 1969 film Ikonostasat, starring Stoyan Gadev.

Plot

The novel takes place in the fictional town of Prespa and follows the story of a typical Renaissance family. Focused mainly on the figure of Lazar Glaushev and his part in the fight against Phanariotes, as well as the joint efforts of the Prespa residents for the reestablishment of the independent Bulgarian church.