Slobodan Novak
Encyclopedia
Slobodan Novak is a Croatian
prose writer, novelist and essayist.
, attended gymnasium in Split, then graduated in Sušak
. During World War II
he joined the Yugoslav Partisans, and he later described those days ironically in his autobiographical essays Digresije and Protimbe (2003). He then attended the University of Zagreb
and earned a degree in Croatian language
and Yugoslav literature in 1953. He worked as lector and concealer and playwright in Crotian National Theatre in Split. Later he worked as a journalist and editor in publishing houses. In 1983 he became a member of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts
. On July 27, 1999 Slobodan Novak was declared Honorary Citizen of Rab
.
The greatest aesthetic achievement was his novel Mirisi, zlato i tamjan (Frangrances, Gold and Frankincense) published in 1968. This is a story about retired middle-aged intellectual who lives with his wife on an isolated island; he lives his life and nurtures the very old Madona Markantunova, a former rich patrician woman and owner of half of the island. The story takes place in the 1960s.
Novak follows the same thematic and poetic line in his short novel Izvanbrodski dnevnik (Outboard Diary) published in 1977. The work was realized as a narrative triptych: it consists of three separate novelistic units which are connected with narrator, characters, situations and motives. Novak described three travels on relation island-mainland-island. But again the reason for the trip is calculation of collective myths and their own illusions.
Later, Novak published a collection of interviews with Jelena Hekman in a book named Digresije (Digressions) in 2001. He later published Protimbe (Dissent) (2003) which he considered as an expansion of Digresije. Protimbe is one of the greatest works of Croatian
autobiographical prose, rich with reminiscences and associations on youth, political and social life in SFR Yugoslavia, on the writer's experience of Croatian War of Independence
and political and social changes. In the novel, he also portrays his friends and enemies, from Vlado Gotovac to Antun Šoljan
, from Sven Lasta to Vladimir Bakarić
. Also, the novel consists of the writer's thoughts and evaluation of the position of Croatianhood, grammar, aesthetics, ICTY
, war crimes, Serbian political project, Communism and Croatian national fate.
In general, the quality, expressiveness and uniformity of Novak's works place them towards the top of Croatian modern prose and also equal to the world's literary achievements of existentialist orientation.
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...
prose writer, novelist and essayist.
Biography
Novak was born in Split on November 3, 1924, the son of father Duje and mother Marija (née Smoje). He was baptized in the local church as Ante Slobodan Novak. He finished elementary school in RabRab
Rab is an island in Croatia and a town of the same name located just off the northern Croatian coast in the Adriatic Sea.The island is long, has an area of and 9,480 inhabitants . The highest peak is Kamenjak at 408 meters...
, attended gymnasium in Split, then graduated in Sušak
Sušak
Sušak is a part of the city of Rijeka in Croatia, where it composes the eastern part of the city.In 1924, Rijeka belonged to the independent Free State of Fiume, which had been created four years earlier under the Treaty of Rapallo, but in the Treaty of Rome the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and...
. 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 joined the Yugoslav Partisans, and he later described those days ironically in his autobiographical essays Digresije and Protimbe (2003). He then attended the University of Zagreb
University of Zagreb
The University of Zagreb is the biggest Croatian university and the oldest continuously operating university in the area covering Central Europe south of Vienna and all of Southeastern Europe...
and earned a degree in Croatian language
Croatian language
Croatian is the collective name for the standard language and dialects spoken by Croats, principally in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Serbian province of Vojvodina and other neighbouring countries...
and Yugoslav literature in 1953. He worked as lector and concealer and playwright in Crotian National Theatre in Split. Later he worked as a journalist and editor in publishing houses. In 1983 he became a member of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts
Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts
The Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts is the national academy of Croatia. It was founded in 1866 as the Yugoslav Academy of Sciences and Arts , and was known by that name for most of its existence.- History :...
. On July 27, 1999 Slobodan Novak was declared Honorary Citizen of Rab
Rab
Rab is an island in Croatia and a town of the same name located just off the northern Croatian coast in the Adriatic Sea.The island is long, has an area of and 9,480 inhabitants . The highest peak is Kamenjak at 408 meters...
.
Literary work
He started his career with tendentious and pathetic songs full of painful memories from the war. Verses were gathered in his work Glasnice u oluji (Vocal Cords in a Storm) (1950). Soon he started to write fiction: he published Krugovima (To Circles) and Republici (To Republic). He gained the attention of critics and public by publishing his autobiographical novel Izgubljeni zavičaj (Lost homeland) (1955) where he deals with his childhood on a lonely island. The novel flows in sign of nostalgic evocation, images full of emotions, lyric and arcadian atmosphere, while the narrative rhythm closely follows the cyclical changes of the seasons. The narrator appears in two characters: in infantile “I” where he observes, registers and absorbs everything around him; and the second character as today’s “I” where he, with a sentimental and quiet dose of resignation recreates his memories and images from youth. This dualism, by which he achieves intimate dissection, is one of the main points in Novak's works.The greatest aesthetic achievement was his novel Mirisi, zlato i tamjan (Frangrances, Gold and Frankincense) published in 1968. This is a story about retired middle-aged intellectual who lives with his wife on an isolated island; he lives his life and nurtures the very old Madona Markantunova, a former rich patrician woman and owner of half of the island. The story takes place in the 1960s.
Novak follows the same thematic and poetic line in his short novel Izvanbrodski dnevnik (Outboard Diary) published in 1977. The work was realized as a narrative triptych: it consists of three separate novelistic units which are connected with narrator, characters, situations and motives. Novak described three travels on relation island-mainland-island. But again the reason for the trip is calculation of collective myths and their own illusions.
Later, Novak published a collection of interviews with Jelena Hekman in a book named Digresije (Digressions) in 2001. He later published Protimbe (Dissent) (2003) which he considered as an expansion of Digresije. Protimbe is one of the greatest works of Croatian
Croatian literature
Croatian literature is a definition given to the compilation of novels, dramas, short stories, poems and other various work of written kind entirely attributed to the medieval and modern culture of the Croats and the Croatian language....
autobiographical prose, rich with reminiscences and associations on youth, political and social life in SFR Yugoslavia, on the writer's experience of Croatian War of Independence
Croatian War of Independence
The Croatian War of Independence was fought from 1991 to 1995 between forces loyal to the government of Croatia—which had declared independence from the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia —and the Serb-controlled Yugoslav People's Army and local Serb forces, with the JNA ending its combat...
and political and social changes. In the novel, he also portrays his friends and enemies, from Vlado Gotovac to Antun Šoljan
Antun Šoljan
Antun Šoljan was a Croatian writer in a period of Cold War who appeared as a part of literal magazine Krugovi ....
, from Sven Lasta to Vladimir Bakarić
Vladimir Bakaric
Dr. Vladimir Bakarić was a Croatian communist and a politician in Socialist Yugoslavia.Bakarić helped organize Partisan resistance in Croatia during World War II. From 1948 to 1969 he was the chairman of the Croatian League of Communists, and as such was a close collaborator of President Josip...
. Also, the novel consists of the writer's thoughts and evaluation of the position of Croatianhood, grammar, aesthetics, ICTY
International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia
The International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991, more commonly referred to as the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia or ICTY, is a...
, war crimes, Serbian political project, Communism and Croatian national fate.
In general, the quality, expressiveness and uniformity of Novak's works place them towards the top of Croatian modern prose and also equal to the world's literary achievements of existentialist orientation.
Works
| In Croatian | In English | Publication |
|---|---|---|
Awards
| Award | Awarded for | Year of reception |
|---|---|---|
Vladimir Nazor award The Vladimir Nazor Award is an annual award given by the Croatian Ministry of Culture to Croatian artists for highest achievements in various artistic fields. It was established in 1959 and is named after the notable writer Vladimir Nazor... |
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Matica hrvatska Matica hrvatska is one of the oldest Croatian cultural institutions, dating back to 1842. The name is somewhat idiosyncratic, best translated as "The Croatian Centre" . It is the largest publisher of Croatian language books... |
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Vecernji list Večernji list is a Croatian daily newspaper published in Zagreb.The newspaper was started in the 1950s and it is today one of two largest daily newspapers in Croatia... |
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Vladimir Nazor award The Vladimir Nazor Award is an annual award given by the Croatian Ministry of Culture to Croatian artists for highest achievements in various artistic fields. It was established in 1959 and is named after the notable writer Vladimir Nazor... |
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Matica hrvatska Matica hrvatska is one of the oldest Croatian cultural institutions, dating back to 1842. The name is somewhat idiosyncratic, best translated as "The Croatian Centre" . It is the largest publisher of Croatian language books... |
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Slobodna Dalmacija Slobodna Dalmacija is a Croatian daily newspaper published in Split.The first issue of Slobodna Dalmacija was published on June 17, 1943 by Tito's Partisans in a cave on Mosor, a mountain near Split, which was occupied by the Italian army during that time. The paper was later published in various... |
Decorations
| Decoration | Image |
|---|---|
Order of Duke Trpimir The Order of Duke Trpimir , or more fully the Order of Duke Trpimir with Neck Badge and Morning Star , is an order of the Republic of Croatia. It ranks fifth in the Croatian order of precedence after the Grand Order of King Dmitar Zvonimir... |
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Marko Marulic Marko Marulić |Split]], 18 August 1450 – Split, 5 January 1524) was a Croatian national poet and Christian humanist, known as the Crown of the Croatian Medieval Age and the father of the Croatian Renaissance. He signed his works as Marko Marulić Splićanin , Marko Pečenić, Marcus Marulus ... |