Juš Kozak
Encyclopedia
Juš Kozak also known under the pseudonym Jalanov, was a Slovenia
n 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" (Lesena žlica) on life during World War II
.
He was born in a wealthy middle class family in Ljubljana
, Slovenia, then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. His younger brothers Ferdo Kozak
and Vlado Kozak also became renowned intellectuals and left wing political activists. He studied history and geography at the University of Vienna
, but finished his studies only in 1921 at the University of Ljubljana
. In 1914, Kozak was arrested by the Austrian police, because of alleged collaboration with the radical pro-Yugoslav
nationalist youth organization Preporod, which had ties with the militant Bosnian organization Mlada Bosna, often consdeired to be terrorist. Immediately after release from prison, he was drafted into the Austro-Hungarian Army
and fought first on the Eastern Front
and then on the Italian Front
.
After the War, he settled in Ljubljana, where he worked as a high school professor. In 1935, he became the chief editor of the prestigious literary journal Ljubljanski zvon
. As editor, he opened the journal to Marxist and Communist authors who published their articles under pseudonym
s.
During World War II
, he collaborated with the Liberation Front of the Slovenian People
. In 1942, he was arrested by the Fascist
authorities of the Italian-occupied Province of Ljubljana
. After the Italian armistice, he joined the partisan resistance. After the war, he dedicated to writing. Between 1946 and 1947, he was the chief editor of the literary journal Novi svet ("New World"). Between 1948 and 1955, he worked as the stage director of the Drama Theatre in Ljubljana. In 1961, he became member of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts
, and in 1963 he received the Prešeren Award
.
He died in Ljubljana.
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 editor
Editing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
. He is most famous for his autobiographic novels, such as "The Cell" on his experience as political prisoner, and "Wooden Spoon" (Lesena žlica) on life during 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...
.
He was born in a wealthy middle class family 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...
, Slovenia, then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. His younger brothers Ferdo Kozak
Ferdo Kozak
Ferdo Kozak was a Slovenian author, playwright, editor and politician.He was born as Ferdinand Kozak in an upper middle class family in Ljubljana, then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire...
and Vlado Kozak also became renowned intellectuals and left wing political activists. He studied history and geography at the University of Vienna
University of Vienna
The University of Vienna is a public university located in Vienna, Austria. It was founded by Duke Rudolph IV in 1365 and is the oldest university in the German-speaking world...
, but finished his studies only in 1921 at 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:...
. In 1914, Kozak was arrested by the Austrian police, because of alleged collaboration with the radical pro-Yugoslav
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
nationalist youth organization Preporod, which had ties with the militant Bosnian organization Mlada Bosna, often consdeired to be terrorist. Immediately after release from prison, he was drafted into the Austro-Hungarian Army
Austro-Hungarian Army
The Austro-Hungarian Army was the ground force of the Austro-Hungarian Dual Monarchy from 1867 to 1918. It was composed of three parts: the joint army , the Austrian Landwehr , and the Hungarian Honvédség .In the wake of fighting between the...
and fought first on the Eastern Front
Eastern Front (World War I)
The Eastern Front was a theatre of war during World War I in Central and, primarily, Eastern Europe. The term is in contrast to the Western Front. Despite the geographical separation, the events in the two theatres strongly influenced each other...
and then on the Italian Front
Battles of the Isonzo
The Battles of the Isonzo were a series of 12 battles between the Austro-Hungarian and Italian armies in World War I. They were fought along the Soča River on the eastern sector of the Italian Front between June 1915 and November 1917...
.
After the War, he settled in Ljubljana, where he worked as a high school professor. In 1935, he became the chief editor of the prestigious literary journal Ljubljanski zvon
Ljubljanski zvon
Ljubljanski zvon was a journal published in Ljubljana in Slovene between 1881 and 1941. It was considered one of the most prestigious literary and cultural magazines in Slovenia.- Early period :...
. As editor, he opened the journal to Marxist and Communist authors who published their articles under pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
s.
During 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...
, he collaborated with 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"...
. In 1942, he was arrested by the Fascist
Italian Fascism
Italian Fascism also known as Fascism with a capital "F" refers to the original fascist ideology in Italy. This ideology is associated with the National Fascist Party which under Benito Mussolini ruled the Kingdom of Italy from 1922 until 1943, the Republican Fascist Party which ruled the Italian...
authorities of the Italian-occupied Province of Ljubljana
Province of Ljubljana
The Province of Ljubljana was a province of the Kingdom of Italy and of the Nazi German Adriatic Littoral during World War II. It was created on May 3, 1941 from territory occupied and annexed to Italy after the Axis invasion and dissolution of Yugoslavia, and it was abolished on May 9, 1945, when...
. After the Italian armistice, he joined the partisan resistance. After the war, he dedicated to writing. Between 1946 and 1947, he was the chief editor of the literary journal Novi svet ("New World"). Between 1948 and 1955, he worked as the stage director of the Drama Theatre in Ljubljana. In 1961, he became member of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts
Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts
The Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts is the national academy of Slovenia, which encompasses science and the arts and brings together the top Slovene researchers and artists as members of the academy....
, and in 1963 he received the Prešeren Award
Prešeren Award
Prešeren Award is the highest decoration in the field of artistic and in the past also scientific creation in Slovenia awarded each year to one or two eminent Slovene artists...
.
He died in Ljubljana.