Someone heard for Krleza??

[bazarov]

Someone of you ever even heard or read Miroslav Krleza???

[Sabo]

Yes I've read a few of his books. Not really my favorite but he's considered one of the best Croation writers ever. The Croats are convinced that the only reason he didn't get Nobel prize was because he supported demands of Croatian intellectuals at the end of 1960s in the Serb-dominated Yugoslavia.

I don't know how much truth is in that but he definitely was technicaly and philosophically more interesting than Ivo Andric, the politically correct Croat that had the official support of the Communist Yugoslavia and that was awarded with the Nobel Prize in 1960s.

How come you are interested?

[Sabo]

Sorry Bazarov you probably wanted more info about the literature.

The main influences came from expressionism, modernism and avant-gard movement in general but there is a strong national trait in his works. Existential themes are mixed with war excperiance, anti-war feelings (WWI), satirical views of the Croations society between the two WWs...

His opus is large, and he wrote in all possible genres. I've mostly read novels and short stories. The most famous works are

Povratak Filipa Latinovica/ The Return of Filip Latinovich
Na rubu pameti/ On the Edge of Reason
Banket u Blitvi/ The Banquet in Blitva
Zastave / The Banners (or flags)
Hrvatski bog Mars/ Croatian god Mars
Balade Perice Kerempuha / Ballads of Petrica Kerempuh

[bazarov]

My dear Sabo, did Filip returnd to Kostanjevac and his dear Bobočka :nod: :nod: :nod: Once my buddy tried to convince me he was returning to Zagreb. Silly, right . You're probably Croat?
I know Krleža, I was intrested in his international popularity. Obviously,no one ever head of him. Pitty, I thing he is a great writer.

[Sabo]

:D :D you too then? oh well I had few hours of hapiness thinking that a non-Croat was interested. I'm Bosnian-Croat. Sorry for the unnecessery sermon.

I've been living 14 years abroad and I have met maybe 2-3 people who knew about Krleza (all professors of Slavic lit). I guess it's the faith of smaller languages.

Have fun in spleen g. Bazarov ;) (more then your friend is having dreaming about Zagreb...where did he get that from?)

[bazarov]

The opening sentence in book goes...Svitalo je kada je Filip stigao na kaptolski kolodvor...I'm sorry it's not on english, but it would loose (non)sense :D :D I've tried to explain the meaning of word capitol, capitolium, kaptol but it was useless. It's nice in spleen :nod: , with Onjegin, Pechorin... :D :D

[Logos]

Someone of you ever even heard or read Miroslav Krleza???

I've heard of them but not read any of their work.

I really do wish there were more Eastern European authors available translated in English.

[Sabo]

The opening sentence in book goes...Svitalo je kada je Filip stigao na kaptolski kolodvor...

ye I know. Isn't that usually interpreted as being a symbol of returning to "nothing", we can not return to the place we remember/the paradise of child years/ the homeland.

Most of Krleza's works are translated into English, but it might be difficult to get hold of them.

[Inga]

I have heard of Krleza. I also have two books of him, but I have not yet read them.
I'm from Germany btw and if I didn't study slavonic languages, literature and linguistics, I would never have heard about him here, I think.

[soulsistachick]

[QUOTE=Logos]I've heard of them but not read any of their work.

Me too

[civilizeme]

Do you have any idea where I can find an English-language copy of Balade Perice Kerempuha?

Cheers,

Zachary

[Sabo]

Now that I think about it I'n not sure that one is translated. There is no entry for it at the Library of Congress or at British Library.

Otherwise there are several Croation bookstores on the web. Some of them might know more.