Ivan Kozarac
Encyclopedia
Ivan Kozarac was a Croatian
novelist, poet
and writer
of short stories.
, Croatia
(then Kingdom of Croatia-Slavonia
, Austria-Hungary
). He came from a peasant
family that sent him to school, but he managed to finish only two classes. As a thirteen year old boy wanting to avoid the family poverty, he was employed as a clerical trainee in a district in Vinkovci.
From 1900 until 1906, he worked as a law clerk
in the office of Levin aristocracy.
In 1903, Ivan suffered from tuberculosis
, but he is not relieved from his military duty. In 1907, he went to the army (first in Petrovaradin
, then in Karlovac
).
In 1909, he returned to his hometown, but in the fall of the year he went to Zagreb
where he was employed as a fund manager and director of the Croatian Writers Society.
In the summer of 1910, the writer and doctor Milivoj Dežman referred him to treatment in Brestovac. However, Ivan returned home uncured and eventually died in Vinkovci at the age of 25.
, Slavonian Blood in 1906, and his other books were released only after his death (thanks in part to the efforts of Dragutin Tadijanović
).
His cardinal work is the novel Đuka Begović
, first published in 1911. The novel describes many Slavonian traditions in an almost documentary style. It has since been made into a theatrical play and a movie by Branko Schmidt
.
Kozarac failed to attract a particular attention to himself in his lifetime. He was a narrator of the life of typical villages of Šokadija during a time when the Military Frontier
was freshly reintegrated into Slavonia
. He wrote much about the corruption of women and fashion and took a critical stance towards the Church, the wealthy life of some priest
s, and the false love towards God. His love for his native Slavonia emerges from each of his works.
(his uncle and also a writer).
Croats
Croats are a South Slavic ethnic group mostly living in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and nearby countries. There are around 4 million Croats living inside Croatia and up to 4.5 million throughout the rest of the world. Responding to political, social and economic pressure, many Croats have...
novelist, poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
and writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
of short stories.
Biography
Ivan Kozarac was born in VinkovciVinkovci
Vinkovci is a city in Croatia, in the Vukovar-Syrmia County. In the 2011 census, the total population of the city was 35,375, making it the largest town of the county...
, Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
(then Kingdom of Croatia-Slavonia
Kingdom of Croatia-Slavonia
The Kingdom of Croatia-Slavonia or Croatia Slavonia was an autonomous kingdom within the Austro-Hungarian Empire. It was part of the Hungarian Kingdom within the dual Austro-Hungarian state, being within the Lands of the Crown of St. Stephen or Transleithania...
, Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
). He came from a peasant
Peasant
A peasant is an agricultural worker who generally tend to be poor and homeless-Etymology:The word is derived from 15th century French païsant meaning one from the pays, or countryside, ultimately from the Latin pagus, or outlying administrative district.- Position in society :Peasants typically...
family that sent him to school, but he managed to finish only two classes. As a thirteen year old boy wanting to avoid the family poverty, he was employed as a clerical trainee in a district in Vinkovci.
From 1900 until 1906, he worked as a law clerk
Clerk
Clerk, the vocational title, commonly refers to a white-collar worker who conducts general office or, in some instances, sales tasks. It is also occasionally used to refer to third-year medical students completing a medical clerkship. The responsibilities of clerical workers commonly include record...
in the office of Levin aristocracy.
In 1903, Ivan suffered from tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
, but he is not relieved from his military duty. In 1907, he went to the army (first in Petrovaradin
Petrovaradin
Petrovaradin , is part of the agglomeration of Novi Sad in Serbia...
, then in Karlovac
Karlovac
Karlovac is a city and municipality in central Croatia. The city proper has a population of 49,082, while the municipality has a population of 59,395 inhabitants .Karlovac is the administrative centre of Karlovac County...
).
In 1909, he returned to his hometown, but in the fall of the year he went to Zagreb
Zagreb
Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb lies at an elevation of approximately above sea level. According to the last official census, Zagreb's city...
where he was employed as a fund manager and director of the Croatian Writers Society.
In the summer of 1910, the writer and doctor Milivoj Dežman referred him to treatment in Brestovac. However, Ivan returned home uncured and eventually died in Vinkovci at the age of 25.
Works
Ivan Kozarac was an active writer for only four years. In his lifetime only a single book was published; a compilation of short storiesShort Stories
Short Stories may refer to:*A plural for Short story*Short Stories , an American pulp magazine published from 1890-1959*Short Stories, a 1954 collection by O. E...
, Slavonian Blood in 1906, and his other books were released only after his death (thanks in part to the efforts of Dragutin Tadijanović
Dragutin Tadijanovic
Dragutin Tadijanović was a renowned Croatian poet and erudite cordially referred to as 'Bard' in Croatia....
).
His cardinal work is the novel Đuka Begović
Đuka Begović
Đuka Begović is a Croatian film directed by Branko Schmidt. It was released in 1991....
, first published in 1911. The novel describes many Slavonian traditions in an almost documentary style. It has since been made into a theatrical play and a movie by Branko Schmidt
Branko Schmidt
Branko Schmidt is an acclaimed Croatian film director.-Filmography:* Sokol Did Not Love Him * Đuka Begović * Vukovar: The Way Home ...
.
Kozarac failed to attract a particular attention to himself in his lifetime. He was a narrator of the life of typical villages of Šokadija during a time when the Military Frontier
Military Frontier
The Military Frontier was a borderland of Habsburg Austria and later the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, which acted as the cordon sanitaire against incursions from the Ottoman Empire...
was freshly reintegrated into Slavonia
Slavonia
Slavonia is a geographical and historical region in eastern Croatia...
. He wrote much about the corruption of women and fashion and took a critical stance towards the Church, the wealthy life of some priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
s, and the false love towards God. His love for his native Slavonia emerges from each of his works.
Legacy
Today a local prize for literary achievement is named after him Josip KozaracJosip Kozarac
Josip Kozarac was a Croatian writer.Josip Kozarac was born in Vinkovci. He studied forestry management in Vienna and later served as forestry official in Vinkovci.He wrote stories, plays and novels...
(his uncle and also a writer).