Igor Torkar
Encyclopedia
Igor Torkar was the pen name
of Boris Fakin (13 October 1913 - 1 January 2004) was a Slovenia
n writer
, playwright
and poet
, most famous for his literary descriptions of Communist repression in Yugoslavia
after World War II
.
, then part of the Austro-Hungarian County of Gorizia and Gradisca
, now in Slovenia
. He attended the prestigious Poljane Grammar School in Ljubljana
. He was the classmate of Boris Kraigher, who later became an influential Communist politician, while his professors included the literary historian France Koblar
, the writer Juš Kozak
and the painter Božidar Jakac
.
In 1932, he enrolled to the University of Ljubljana
, where he studied law. He never completed his studies. He was member of several left wing student groups which advocated the autonomy of Slovenia within the Kingdom of Yugoslavia
, and the democratization
of the country. Among other, he led a student association that successfully fought for the construction of a new university library building
in Ljubljana.
During this time, he published his first short stories and essays under the pseudonym Igor Torkar in the literary journal Sodobnost
. He also wrote political satire in the satirical magazine Pavliha, some of which were censored by the authorities of the Drava Banovina
.
After the Axis
invasion of Yugoslavia
in April 1941, he became an activist of the Liberation Front of the Slovenian People
. He never joined the partisan resistance, but organized the collection of supplies for the fighting units of the Slovene resistance. In 1942, he was arrested by the Italian occupation authorities, but was released after two months in prison. In 1943, he was arrested by the Nazi German occupation forces and sent to Dachau concentration camp, where he remained until the end of World War II
.
After the war, he returned to Yugoslavia, where he worked as a technical manager in a chemical industry complex in Slovenia. In April 1948, he was arrested by the Yugoslav Communist authorities on false charges of pro-Nazi activity during World War II. He was put on trial at the so-called Dachau trials together with other 33 survivors from Dachau and Buchenwald concentration camps who were accused of collaboration with the German Gestapo
because according to the prosecution, only collaboration could explain their survival. In 1949, he was sentenced to 6 years in prison, which was raised to 12 after the appeal. Torkar spent four years in prison, including two years in solitary confinement. He was released in 1952, and was prohibited to publish for two more years.
After two years of unemployment, Torkar became lecturer at the Academy of Fine Arts
in Ljubljana. In 1976, he rose to the position of professor of graphic technology. In 1971, the High Court of the Socialist Republic of Slovenia
nullified the sentence from 1949, and Torkar was acquitted of all charges.
From the 1990s onward, he became a critical commentator and observer of the democratization of Slovenia, with regular columns in the newspapers Delo
and Dnevnik
.
In October 2003, on the occasion of the author's 90th birthday, Slovenian National Television broadcast a documentary with the title 'Dying in Installments,' dedicated to Torkar's life story. He died on New Year's Day of 2004 in Ljubljana.
In all his texts, Torkar expressed an outward humanistic vision of the world. Together with his lifelong friend, the poet Matej Bor
, Torkar was the foremost representative of neo-humanist trend in Slovenian literature
.
Pen name
A pen name, nom de plume, or literary double, is a pseudonym adopted by an author. A pen name may be used to make the author's name more distinctive, to disguise his or her gender, to distance an author from some or all of his or her works, to protect the author from retribution for his or her...
of Boris Fakin (13 October 1913 - 1 January 2004) was a Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
n 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....
, playwright
Playwright
A playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder...
and 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...
, most famous for his literary descriptions of Communist repression in Yugoslavia
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was the Yugoslav state that existed from the abolition of the Yugoslav monarchy until it was dissolved in 1992 amid the Yugoslav Wars. It was a socialist state and a federation made up of six socialist republics: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia,...
after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Life
He was born in a Slovene family in the village of Kostanjevica na KrasuKostanjevica na Krasu
Kostanjevica na Krasu is one of the main settlements and the administrative centre of the municipality of Miren-Kostanjevica in the Littoral region of Slovenia....
, then part of the Austro-Hungarian County of Gorizia and Gradisca
Gorizia and Gradisca
The County of Gorizia and Gradisca was a Habsburg county in Central Europe, in what is now a multilingual border area of Italy and Slovenia. It was named for its two major urban centers, Gorizia and Gradisca d'Isonzo.-Province of the Habsburg Empire:...
, now in Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
. He attended the prestigious Poljane Grammar School in Ljubljana
Ljubljana
Ljubljana is the capital of Slovenia and its largest city. It is the centre of the City Municipality of Ljubljana. It is located in the centre of the country in the Ljubljana Basin, and is a mid-sized city of some 270,000 inhabitants...
. He was the classmate of Boris Kraigher, who later became an influential Communist politician, while his professors included the literary historian France Koblar
France Koblar
France Koblar was a Slovene literary historian, editor and translator.Koblar was born in Železniki in what was then Austria-Hungary and is now in Slovenia. He studied Slavic languages and Latin at Vienna...
, the writer Juš Kozak
Juš Kozak
Juš Kozak , also known under the pseudonym Jalanov, was a Slovenian writer, playwright and editor. He is most famous for his autobiographic novels, such as "The Cell" on his experience as political prisoner, and "Wooden Spoon" on life during World War II.He was born in a wealthy middle class...
and the painter Božidar Jakac
Božidar Jakac
Božidar Jakac was a Slovene Expressionist, Realist and Symbolist painter, graphic artist, art teacher, photographer and filmmaker. He produced one of the most extensive oeuvres of pastels and oil paintings , drawings and, above all, graphics in Slovenia...
.
In 1932, he enrolled to the University of Ljubljana
University of Ljubljana
The University of Ljubljana is the oldest and largest university in Slovenia. With 64,000 enrolled graduate and postgraduate students, it is among the largest universities in Europe.-Beginnings:...
, where he studied law. He never completed his studies. He was member of several left wing student groups which advocated the autonomy of Slovenia within the Kingdom of Yugoslavia
Kingdom 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 the democratization
Democratization
Democratization is the transition to a more democratic political regime. It may be the transition from an authoritarian regime to a full democracy, a transition from an authoritarian political system to a semi-democracy or transition from a semi-authoritarian political system to a democratic...
of the country. Among other, he led a student association that successfully fought for the construction of a new university library building
National and University Library of Slovenia
The National and University Library is one of the most important national educational and cultural institutions of Slovenia. It was established in 1774 by a decree released by the Empress Maria Theresa. It is located in the centre of Ljubljana, in a building designed by the architect Jože Plečnik...
in Ljubljana.
During this time, he published his first short stories and essays under the pseudonym Igor Torkar in the literary journal Sodobnost
Sodobnost
Sodobnost is a Slovenian literary and cultural magazine, established in 1933. It is considered the oldest of currently existing literary magazines in Slovenia. Although Sodobnost has traditionally been a magazine focused on cultural and literary issues, it nowadays covers a wide range of current...
. He also wrote political satire in the satirical magazine Pavliha, some of which were censored by the authorities of the Drava Banovina
Drava Banovina
The Drava Banovina or Drava Banate was a province of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia between 1929 and 1941. This province consisted of most of present-day Slovenia and was named for the Drava River...
.
After the Axis
Axis Powers
The Axis powers , also known as the Axis alliance, Axis nations, Axis countries, or just the Axis, was an alignment of great powers during the mid-20th century that fought World War II against the Allies. It began in 1936 with treaties of friendship between Germany and Italy and between Germany and...
invasion of Yugoslavia
Invasion of Yugoslavia
The Invasion of Yugoslavia , also known as the April War , was the Axis Powers' attack on the Kingdom of Yugoslavia which began on 6 April 1941 during World War II...
in April 1941, he became an activist of the Liberation Front of the Slovenian People
Liberation Front of the Slovenian People
On 26 April 1941 in Ljubljana the Anti-Imperialist Front was established. It was to promote "an international massive movement" to "liberate the Slovenian nation" whose "hope and example was the Soviet Union"...
. He never joined the partisan resistance, but organized the collection of supplies for the fighting units of the Slovene resistance. In 1942, he was arrested by the Italian occupation authorities, but was released after two months in prison. In 1943, he was arrested by the Nazi German occupation forces and sent to Dachau concentration camp, where he remained until the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
After the war, he returned to Yugoslavia, where he worked as a technical manager in a chemical industry complex in Slovenia. In April 1948, he was arrested by the Yugoslav Communist authorities on false charges of pro-Nazi activity during World War II. He was put on trial at the so-called Dachau trials together with other 33 survivors from Dachau and Buchenwald concentration camps who were accused of collaboration with the German Gestapo
Gestapo
The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
because according to the prosecution, only collaboration could explain their survival. In 1949, he was sentenced to 6 years in prison, which was raised to 12 after the appeal. Torkar spent four years in prison, including two years in solitary confinement. He was released in 1952, and was prohibited to publish for two more years.
After two years of unemployment, Torkar became lecturer at the Academy of Fine Arts
Academy of Fine Arts and Design, Ljubljana
The Academy of Fine Arts and Design , is a prestigious art academy and institution based in Ljubljana, Slovenia . It is part of the University of Ljubljana....
in Ljubljana. In 1976, he rose to the position of professor of graphic technology. In 1971, the High Court of the Socialist Republic of Slovenia
Socialist Republic of Slovenia
The Socialist Republic of Slovenia was a socialist state that was a constituent country of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia from 1943 until 1990...
nullified the sentence from 1949, and Torkar was acquitted of all charges.
From the 1990s onward, he became a critical commentator and observer of the democratization of Slovenia, with regular columns in the newspapers Delo
Delo
Delo is the largest national daily newspaper in Slovenia. It was established on May 1st, 1959, when two newspapers Ljudska pravica and Slovenski poročevalec merged. Nowadays, it is the most influential and credible daily newspaper in Slovenia...
and Dnevnik
Dnevnik (Ljubljana)
Dnevnik is a daily newspaper published in Ljubljana, Slovenia. It was first issued in June 1951 as Ljubljanski dnevnik but was renamed to Dnevnik in 1968....
.
In October 2003, on the occasion of the author's 90th birthday, Slovenian National Television broadcast a documentary with the title 'Dying in Installments,' dedicated to Torkar's life story. He died on New Year's Day of 2004 in Ljubljana.
Work
Torkar published his first volume of poetry, 'The Crazy Chronos' (Blazni Kronos) in the 1930s. He rose to prominence with the poetry collection 'Sonnets from Jail' (Jetniški soneti) from 1974. His most famous work was an autobiographic novel entitled 'Dying on Rates' (Umiranje na obroke), published in 1984, in which he described his experience as a victim of Communist repression.In all his texts, Torkar expressed an outward humanistic vision of the world. Together with his lifelong friend, the poet Matej Bor
Matej Bor
Matej Bor was the pen name of Vladimir Pavšič , who was a Slovene poet, translator, playwright, journalist and partisan.-Biography:...
, Torkar was the foremost representative of neo-humanist trend in Slovenian literature
Slovenian literature
Slovene literature, meaning the literature in the Slovene language, starts with Freising manuscripts around 1000. From first printed Slovene religious books in 1550 it is followed by these literary periods and notable authors:-Middle Ages:-Folk poetry:...
.