Milan Begović
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Milan Begović (; January 19, 1876 – May 13, 1948) was a Croatian
novelist A novelist is an author or writer of novels, though often novelists also write in other genres of both fiction and non-fiction. Some novelists are professional novelists, thus make a living wage, living writing novels and other fiction, while other ...
,
playwright A playwright or dramatist is a person who writes play (theatre), plays, which are a form of drama that primarily consists of dialogue between Character (arts), characters and is intended for Theatre, theatrical performance rather than just Readin ...
,
translator Translation is the communication of the meaning of a source-language text by means of an equivalent target-language text. The English language draws a terminological distinction (which does not exist in every language) between ''trans ...
, and
lyricist A lyricist is a writer who writes lyrics (the spoken words), as opposed to a composer, who writes the song's music which may include but not limited to the melody, harmony, arrangement and accompaniment. Royalties A lyricist's income derives ...
.


Biography

Begović was born in
Vrlika Vrlika is a small town in inland Split-Dalmatia County, Croatia. The closest large towns are Sinj, Knin, and Drniš. Vrlika was given the status of town in 1997. Vrlika is an underdeveloped municipality which is statistically classified as the Ar ...
,
Kingdom of Croatia-Slavonia The Kingdom of Croatia-Slavonia (; or ; ) was a nominally autonomous kingdom and constitutionally defined separate political nation within the Austro-Hungarian Empire. It was created in 1868 by merging the kingdoms of Kingdom of Croatia (Habs ...
, then a part of the
Austro-Hungarian Empire Austria-Hungary, also referred to as the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Dual Monarchy or the Habsburg Monarchy, was a multi-national constitutional monarchy in Central Europe between 1867 and 1918. A military and diplomatic alliance, it consist ...
, in 1876, the son of Ivan, a
smallholder A smallholding or smallholder is a small farm operating under a small-scale agriculture model. Definitions vary widely for what constitutes a smallholder or small-scale farm, including factors such as size, food production technique or technolo ...
and
shopkeeper A shopkeeper is a retail merchant or tradesman; one who owns or operates a small store or shop. Generally, shop employees are not shopkeepers, but are often incorrectly referred to as such. At larger companies, a shopkeeper is usually referred t ...
, and Filomena "File" (). In 1894, he enrolled at the
University of Zagreb The University of Zagreb (, ) is a public university, public research university in Zagreb, Croatia. It is the largest Croatian university and one of the oldest continuously operating universities in Europe. The University of Zagreb and the Unive ...
studying
natural science Natural science or empirical science is one of the branches of science concerned with the description, understanding and prediction of natural phenomena, based on empirical evidence from observation and experimentation. Mechanisms such as peer ...
s. He dropped out in 1896, working as a substitute teacher at a gymnasium in
Split Split(s) or The Split may refer to: Places * Split, Croatia, the largest coastal city in Croatia * Split Island, Canada, an island in the Hudson Bay * Split Island, Falkland Islands * Split Island, Fiji, better known as Hạfliua Arts, enter ...
. In 1900, he graduated from the in Split and married his first wife, pianist Paula (), whom he had met in
Zagreb Zagreb ( ) is the capital (political), capital and List of cities and towns in Croatia#List of cities and towns, largest city of Croatia. It is in the Northern Croatia, north of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the ...
during his studies. The following year, his daughter Božena was born. He then enrolled in the Romance linguistics programme in
Vienna Vienna ( ; ; ) is the capital city, capital, List of largest cities in Austria, most populous city, and one of Federal states of Austria, nine federal states of Austria. It is Austria's primate city, with just over two million inhabitants. ...
, graduating in 1903. In 1905, he fathered a son, Branko. During these years, Begović travelled throughout Europe alone, which he considered necessary for personal development, but, in 1909, he was invited to
Hamburg Hamburg (, ; ), officially the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg,. is the List of cities in Germany by population, second-largest city in Germany after Berlin and List of cities in the European Union by population within city limits, 7th-lar ...
at the behest of Baron , director of the
Deutsches Schauspielhaus The Deutsches Schauspielhaus, sometimes referred to as the Hamburg Schauspielhaus or Hamburg Theatre, is a theatre in the St. Georg, Hamburg, St. Georg quarter of the city of Hamburg, Germany History The Deutsches Schauspielhaus was co-foun ...
. This time did not lend itself to Begović developing original works, but he later recalled that the time had been comfortable and that he had learned a lot while working there. He and his family were also relatively well-off and had a reliable income; Begović was later known for his exceptionally poor financial management. Also while in Hamburg, he wrote for several periodicals, primarily the '. When his contract in Hamburg finished in 1912, the family moved to
Vienna Vienna ( ; ; ) is the capital city, capital, List of largest cities in Austria, most populous city, and one of Federal states of Austria, nine federal states of Austria. It is Austria's primate city, with just over two million inhabitants. ...
. This period in Begović's life was marked with constant change, both personal and professional. In 1913, Begović was hired by the Serbian National Theatre in
Novi Sad Novi Sad ( sr-Cyrl, Нови Сад, ; #Name, see below for other names) is the List of cities in Serbia, second largest city in Serbia and the capital of the autonomous province of Vojvodina. It is located in the southern portion of the Pannoni ...
as a contract
playwright A playwright or dramatist is a person who writes play (theatre), plays, which are a form of drama that primarily consists of dialogue between Character (arts), characters and is intended for Theatre, theatrical performance rather than just Readin ...
and chief director, but it was shortly lived. He is recorded as having received a salary from the Velika Gymnasium in
Sarajevo Sarajevo ( ), ; ''see Names of European cities in different languages (Q–T)#S, names in other languages'' is the Capital city, capital and List of cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, largest city of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a population of 2 ...
from 1914 until the collapse of Austria-Hungary. During
World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
, he served in the
Austro-Hungarian Army The Austro-Hungarian Army, also known as the Imperial and Royal Army,; was the principal ground force of Austria-Hungary from 1867 to 1918. It consisted of three organisations: the Common Army (, recruited from all parts of Austria-Hungary), ...
, serving primarily as a quartermaster until 1918, where he served with the Yugoslav forces during its mission to Vienna. In 1918, his third child — a son, Bruno — was born from an affair he had with Anna Marie Spitzer, his later-wife twenty years his junior, whom he had met in Vienna. After his separation from Paula, he and Spitzer moved to
Zagreb Zagreb ( ) is the capital (political), capital and List of cities and towns in Croatia#List of cities and towns, largest city of Croatia. It is in the Northern Croatia, north of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the ...
. From 1921 until 1922, he was an editor and publisher with
Ljubo Wiesner Ljubo Wiesner (February 2, 1885 in Zagreb – July 3, 1951 in Rome) was a Croatian poet. He was a follower of Antun Gustav Matoš's work.
at ''Kritika'' magazine and a member of the editorial staff for the daily paper '. In 1923, he was granted a divorce from Paula and immediately married Spitzer, with
Miroslav Krleža Miroslav Krleža (; 7 July 1893 – 29 December 1981) was a Croatian writer who is widely considered to be the greatest Croatian writer of the 20th century. He wrote notable works in all the literary genres, including poetry ('' The Ballads o ...
as his best man. The same year, he began editing ', with Antun Bonifačić later becoming co-editor in 1932. In Zagreb, Begović wrote many of his best-known works, including ''Man of God'' () in 1924 and ''Adventurer at the Door'' () in 1926. In 1927, after several attempts, he succeeded in becoming director of drama at the Croatian National Theatre. However, the political motifs in his work, particularly those found in his theatre adaption of August Šenoa's ''Croatian Diogenes'' (), were at odds with the political climate and he was dismissed the following year. Ten years after meeting Spitzer, in 1928, Begović met his third wife, Danica Rabenhalt. She was 26 years his junior — a year younger than his oldest child, Božena. He would teach at a gymnasium from 1929 until his retirement in 1932. The two lived in from his retirement in 1932 until 1938. With the establishment of communist
Yugoslavia , common_name = Yugoslavia , life_span = 1918–19921941–1945: World War II in Yugoslavia#Axis invasion and dismemberment of Yugoslavia, Axis occupation , p1 = Kingdom of SerbiaSerbia , flag_p ...
in 1945, the
Croatian Writers' Association Croatian Writers' Association (; abbreviated DHK) is the official association of Croatian writers. It was founded in 1900 in Zagreb with the goal "to unite writers and help them support one another, and promote Croatian literature regardless of po ...
judged that Begović had collaborated with the war-time
Independent State of Croatia The Independent State of Croatia (, NDH) was a World War II–era puppet state of Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy (1922–1943), Fascist Italy. It was established in parts of Axis occupation of Yugoslavia, occupied Yugoslavia on 10 April 1941, ...
.Timeline of Milan Begović
Begović died in Zagreb of a stroke in 1948 and, due to his falling out with the regime, his death was neither announced nor given special honours. He is buried at
Mirogoj Cemetery The Mirogoj City Cemetery (, ), also known as Mirogoj Cemetery (), is a cemetery park that is considered to be among the more noteworthy landmarks in the city of Zagreb. The cemetery inters members of all religious groups: Catholic, Orthodox, M ...
.Milan Begović at Gradska Groblja
Today, his best known titles are his drama ''Adventurer at the Door'' (, 1926) and his comedy ''American Yacht in Split Harbour'' (, 1930). In his collaborative efforts, he is best known, even outside of
Croatia Croatia, officially the Republic of Croatia, is a country in Central Europe, Central and Southeast Europe, on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. It borders Slovenia to the northwest, Hungary to the northeast, Serbia to the east, Bosnia and Herze ...
, for writing the lyrics to the opera '' Ero the Joker''.


Selected works

* ''The Book Boccadoro'' (, 1900) * ''A Life for the Tsar'' (, 1904) * ''The Biučić Apartment'' (, 1909) * ''Little Comedies'' (, 1921) ** ''Minuet'' () ** ''Venus the Victoress'' () ** ''The Bishop's Niece'' () * ''Quince in a Coffin'' (, 1921) * ''Man of God'' (, 1924) * ''Selected Poems'' (, 1925) * '' Adventurer at the Door'' (, 1926) * ''Croatian Diogenes'' (, 1928) * ''American Yacht in Split Harbour'' (, 1930) * ''Without a Third'' (, 1931) * ''Quartet'' (, 1936) * ''The Road Through Italy'' (, 1942)


References


Notes


Citations


External links


Ljetopis Milana Begovića
{{DEFAULTSORT:Begovic, Milan 1876 births 1948 deaths People from Vrlika Croatian dramatists and playwrights Croatian writers Members of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts Burials at Mirogoj Cemetery Yugoslav writers