Veljko Petrovic (poet)
Encyclopedia
Veljko Petrović poetry and prose writer, art and literary critic and theoretician, was born in Sombor
on February 4, 1884. After graduating from high school in his home town, he went to Budapest
to study law. From 1906 to 1907 he was co-editor of Croatia magazine, founded in Pest. Because of his nationalistic attitude he moved to Belgrade, participated as a war correspondent in both Balkan Wars and World War I, and wrote poetry. Between the wars he was active in cultural and educational affairs and continued to be so until his death in Belgrade in 1967.
and again after World War II when the communist usurper
took over. Petrović's colorful description of the Vojvodina peasants and small-town folk offer a rich thematic canvas of a teeming life, replete with national, social, and moral problems. He has also written love stories and many stories for children.
He is considered to be one of the leading poets of Post-Modernism in Serbian
literature. Veljko wrote mostly about Vojvodina
, its ambience and people. His many functions and memberships of various boards and committees included the chairmanship of Novi Sad
's Matica srpska, from 1953 to 1956, followed by his election as the institution's lifelong president. He was a member of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts
, and president of Srpska knjizevna zadruga in Belgrade
. From 1944 until his retirement in 1962, he was the director of the National Museum
, Belgrade. His collection of short stories are: Varljivo Prolece (Changing Spring, 1921); Bunja i drugi iz Ravangrada (Bunja and Others from Ravangrad, 1921); Pomerene savest (Demented Consciences, 1922); Iskusenja (Temptations, 1924); Izdanci iz zapaljena grma (Shoots from a Burning Stump, 1932); and Prepelica u ruci (A Quail in the Hand, 1948). He is best remembered, however, for Dah (Breath). He was the author of numerous magazine articles and studies on literature and art. He was one of the few to receive the coveted Yugoslav Writer's Association award.
Sombor
Sombor is a city and municipality located in northwest part of Serbian autonomous province of Vojvodina. The city has a total population of 48,749 , while the Sombor municipality has 87,815 inhabitants...
on February 4, 1884. After graduating from high school in his home town, he went to Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
to study law. From 1906 to 1907 he was co-editor of Croatia magazine, founded in Pest. Because of his nationalistic attitude he moved to Belgrade, participated as a war correspondent in both Balkan Wars and World War I, and wrote poetry. Between the wars he was active in cultural and educational affairs and continued to be so until his death in Belgrade in 1967.
Biography
He first came to the attention of literary critics for his patriotic poetry, Rodoljubive pesme (Patriotic Poems, 1912) and Na pragu (On the Treshhold, 1914). Afterwards, he turned to the short story and remained in the genre. His patriotic poetry avoids bombastic phrases and inflated pathos; it is rather a somber, realistic appraisal of his country and its past and a declaration of sincere, unconspicuous love for it. In his numerous stories he depicts, for the most part the life of the Serbs in Vojvodina, first under the multi-national Austro-Hungarian Empire, and later, part of the triune Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, an unlikely confederacy of Slav states that went on to change its name again to the Kingdom of YugoslaviaKingdom of Yugoslavia
The Kingdom of Yugoslavia was a state stretching from the Western Balkans to Central Europe which existed during the often-tumultuous interwar era of 1918–1941...
and again after World War II when the communist usurper
Usurper
Usurper is a derogatory term used to describe either an illegitimate or controversial claimant to the power; often, but not always in a monarchy, or a person who succeeds in establishing himself as a monarch without inheriting the throne, or any other person exercising authority unconstitutionally...
took over. Petrović's colorful description of the Vojvodina peasants and small-town folk offer a rich thematic canvas of a teeming life, replete with national, social, and moral problems. He has also written love stories and many stories for children.
He is considered to be one of the leading poets of Post-Modernism in Serbian
Serbs
The Serbs are a South Slavic ethnic group of the Balkans and southern Central Europe. Serbs are located mainly in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and form a sizable minority in Croatia, the Republic of Macedonia and Slovenia. Likewise, Serbs are an officially recognized minority in...
literature. Veljko wrote mostly about Vojvodina
Vojvodina
Vojvodina, officially called Autonomous Province of Vojvodina is an autonomous province of Serbia. Its capital and largest city is Novi Sad...
, its ambience and people. His many functions and memberships of various boards and committees included the chairmanship of Novi Sad
Novi Sad
Novi Sad is the capital of the northern Serbian province of Vojvodina, and the administrative centre of the South Bačka District. The city is located in the southern part of Pannonian Plain on the Danube river....
's Matica srpska, from 1953 to 1956, followed by his election as the institution's lifelong president. He was a member of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts
Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts
The Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts is the most prominent academic institution in Serbia today...
, and president of Srpska knjizevna zadruga in Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
. From 1944 until his retirement in 1962, he was the director of the National Museum
National museum
A national museum is a museum maintained by a nation.The following is a list of national museums:-Australia:*Australian National Aviation Museum*Australian National Maritime Museum*, Sydney*Australian War Memorial*Museum Victoria...
, Belgrade. His collection of short stories are: Varljivo Prolece (Changing Spring, 1921); Bunja i drugi iz Ravangrada (Bunja and Others from Ravangrad, 1921); Pomerene savest (Demented Consciences, 1922); Iskusenja (Temptations, 1924); Izdanci iz zapaljena grma (Shoots from a Burning Stump, 1932); and Prepelica u ruci (A Quail in the Hand, 1948). He is best remembered, however, for Dah (Breath). He was the author of numerous magazine articles and studies on literature and art. He was one of the few to receive the coveted Yugoslav Writer's Association award.