Silvije Strahimir Kranjčević

Silvije Strahimir Kranjčević (; 17 February 1865—29 October 1908) was a Croatian poet. His most notable work is ''Bugarkinje,'' published in ''1885,'' a book of poetry exploring the themes of Homeland, Man, and Universe.

Early life and education

Kranjčević was born in Senj on February 17, 1865 to Spiridion and Marija. As a teenager, he attended secondary school at a gymnasium but did not graduate. He joined the Germanico-Hungaricum Institute in Rome intending to become a priest but changed his mind. His short stay in Rome would be alluded to in his poetry years later.

He attended a one-year course for language and history teachers in Zagreb. After obtaining a diploma as a teacher in "citizen schools", he moved to work in Bosnia and Herzegovina. He taught in Mostar, Livno, Bijeljina, and Sarajevo. During this time, he began writing poetry.

Kranjčević's first poem, ''Zavjet'' (The Pledge), was published in 1883, a couple of months before he left for Rome, in the magazine ''Hrvatska vila''. He sent two more poems from Rome in 1884, ''Pozdrav'' (Salutations) and ''Senju-gradu'' (To the City of Senj), to ''Sloboda'', a magazine in Sušak. When he returned from Rome, he published ''Noć na Foru'' (A Night at the Forum) in Vienac.

Politically, he was a follower of Starčević and the Croatian Party of Rights. The dark moods in his poems are considered related to the Hungarian oppression of Croatia.

''Bugarkinje''

Kranjčević published his first poetry book, ''Bugarkinje,'' in 1885. Titled after a genre of traditional elegiac Balkan folk songs, the work primarily explored three central themes: Homeland, Man, and Universe. The first criticism of the book was written by the classical philologist and literary critic in '' Vijenac''. Šrepel noted Kranjčević's "vivid imagination" and "true poetic enthusiasm", but deplored the uneven quality of his poems. Nevertheless, he concluded that "a new and talented hand has appeared in the Croatian Parnassus".

Later literary figures also commented on ''Bugarkinje''. The writer Miroslav Krleža said they presented Kranjčević as a genuine "standard-bearer of freedom". More recently, the literary historian stated that the prophetic and bitter energy of its poems, although occasionally falling into pathos and rhetoric, embraced universal and cosmic themes, which made the young Kranjčević stand out among his contemporaries, such as August Harambašić, whose main themes were declamatory patriotism and romantic love.

''Bugarkinje'' attempted to formulate a poetic and political program. The dedicatory poem to August Šenoa expressed Kranjčević's poetic credo, while poems dedicated to Croatia, the People, and the Worker represented key aspects of the poet's national and political beliefs.

Kranjčević incorporated parables from the Bible and classical mythology, as well as symbols from Christianity and Judaism. The allegorical nature of these references allowed him to address fundamental human issues through symbolism and metaphor.

Later life

His next poetry book, ''Selected Poems'', was published more than a decade later, in 1898. It was followed by another book, ''Trzaji'' (Quivers), in 1902.

In Sarajevo, he was the editor of '' Nada'', a literary magazine published by the Bosnian government, for eight years (1895–1903). The nominal editor was the government adviser Kosta Hörmann, the benefactor of Antun Gustav Matoš. The magazine was associated with the Croatian pre-modernist movement, Moderna. It was there that Kranjčević published most of his literary essays and criticisms.

A postage stamp was released in his honour in 2008.

Publications

Kran’s publications include;

* ''Bugarkinje'' (1885)
* ''Trzaji'' (1902)
* ''Izabrane pjesme''
* ''Pjesme''
* ''Poezija''

References

External links

*

Kapitalno djelo o Kranjčeviću

Bugarkinje

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kranjcevic, Silvije Strahimir
1865 births
1908 deaths
People from Senj
20th-century Croatian poets
19th-century Croatian poets
Croatian male poets
19th-century Croatian male writers
20th-century Croatian male writers
Croatian poets