Children's literature by Ivan Blažević

Abstract

The text delves into various aspects of the literary work of Priest Ivan Blažević (Frankenau, 1888 – Szombathely, 1946), who authored texts for both adults and children, earning him the title of the "first poet for school youth" in literary history (Benčić, 1995, p. 265). Within the context of Germanic, Hungarian, Slovak, and Czech culture, a literary tradition emerged among a branch of the Croatian people who settled in their new homeland, primarily in the western part of Hungary, starting in the 16th century. Cultural activity thrived in the early 20th century, with a strong emphasis on the Croatian language and culture as integral markers of identity; these were perceived essential in shaping values within the family and school environment, with a particular focus on children as the primary audience. In addition to his contributions to children's poetry, Blažević's literary interests extended to children's prose and translations. Notably, he produced an intriguing translation of Oscar Wilde's "The Happy Prince" into the Burgenland Croatian language, a facet not previously acknowledged in Croatian literary history. By examining his literary work, the paper provides insight into the socio-educational context of the time and place, and the messages that were deemed important enough to convey and accentuated by the cultural progenitors of the time.