Konačno su okovi popustili i jedno krilo vrata otvori. Gusta pljesniva tmina nije zadržavala Sinišu. Uzevši fenjer u jednu ruku, u drugu pištolj, uđe u mrek. Našao se pod niskim stropom u uskom podrumskom fodniku. Odatle je ušao u veći prostor prepun različitih strojeva za mučenje. - Ovo je mučilište - upozori Meško. - Eno prolaza. Stali su kraj uskog otvor i osvijetlili ga. - Gle, ovdje je netko razrušio zid! Trag je svjež. Privukoše se k otvoru i skočivši na mokri pijesak opaze pred sobom blijedo, mršavo lice muškarca obraslog neurednom bradom. Oči su buljile prestrašeno, napola očajno. Stajao je držeći u ruci debelu željeznu motku. Opazivši u sebe uperene pištolje, spusti šipku i reče: - Neću vam ništa!
Marija Jurić Zagorka was a Croatian journalist, novelist and dramatist, the first female journalist and second in the list of most popular Croatian writers of all time (by the 2005 poll compiled by Vjesnik, a Zagreb daily newspaper). Many of her works have been adapted to film.
She was born in the village of Negovec near Vrbovec, to a well-standing family, which allowed her a good education, but in spite of her talent and many gifts, her parents decided to end her education early and, soon after leaving school, married her off to a man whom she barely knew, a Hungarian railway clerk 18 years her senior. The marriage ended abruptly with her escape from the house, first to Sremska Mitrovica and then to Zagreb, due to her husband's and mother-in-law's abuse.
It was in Zagreb that she began her career as a journalist, which was a highly unusual career for a woman in those days, and because of that, she was frowned upon, humiliated and prejudiced against her entire life. She was forced to write anonymously, under pseudonyms that hid her gender, and hide herself at work so nobody would notice there was a woman writing for (and later running) a newspaper. This didn't stop her from being politically involved, fighting against the Germanization and Magyarization of Croatia, and fighting for the rights of women, which caused her considerable problems in life, both professionally and privately.
Urged by Bishop Strossmayer, Zagorka began writing historic novels, usually set in 16th, 17th and 18th century Croatia. She instantly became popular amongst the people, who endearingly called her "The Fairy of Zagorje" (upon publishing Grička vještica) and "Queen of Croatians" (upon publishing Gordana: Kraljica Hrvata). The critics and her colleagues, however, constantly put her down, ridiculed her work, slurred her as a person and as a writer, and deliberately ignored her in literary magazines and almanacs. Still, she kept on writing and published her works as a part of her newspaper so they would be affordable to the general public, adapted her own and the works of August Šenoa for theater, ran two magazines "Ženski list" (1925- 1938) and "Hrvatica" (1938-1940) addressed to the female public, and with her young female colleagues formed the Society of Croatian Female Writers.
Upon the formation of Independent State of Croatia, the magazine "Hrvatica" was forcibly canceled and her entire estate is taken from her, leaving her without means to support herself. Desperate, Zagorka attempted suicide, but luckily survived. Living in Zagreb, she saw the end of WWII thanks to the financial help and care of her loyal public. Despite her age and weak health, she continued fighting for the rights of women, even though it earned her the ridicule and animosity of her male colleagues, who repeatedly called her "a madwoman" and "mannish old hag", until the day of her death.
None of her novels have been translated into English, but two are available in German: Grička vještica and Malleus maleficarum. 11 of her novels, published in Croatian, are found in the Library of Congress. The exact number of the novels she has written is unknown, but it is presumed that she wrote around 35, some of which are lost forever.
CRO/ENG Ne mogu vjerovati kako se približavam kraju dvama dragim serijalima (''Grička vještica'' i ''The Last Kingdom''), stoga očekujem kako će oba završiti sa praskom. Posebno nakon toliko mjeseci čekanja da konačno dohvatim iduću knjigu u serijalu i vidim kamo će me odvesti u ovom svijetu punom intriga, a koji se suočava sa dolaskom novog razdoblja. Nastavljajući tamo gdje je stala, Zagorka ponovno uspjeva nadmašiti samu sebe, kombinirajući toliko žanrovskih elemenata (kriminalistika, ljubav, politika, istraga, filozofija), kako bi pobudila svačiju želju da pruži priliku ovom fascinantnom serijalu, za kojega se nadam kako će doživjeti svoju punu adaptaciju. Ono što me se posebno dojmilo jest lik prijestolonasljednika, Josipa, koji, iako mlad, ali ''svoj čovjek'', oboružan znanjem i snalažljivošću, pruža oslonac kontesi Neri u još jednoj, naizgled bezizlaznoj situaciji, dok se u pozadini odigravaju prave igre prijestolja i mogući rat sa potencijalnim suparnicima iz svih smjerova (Pruska, Rusija). Naravno, ne smije se zaboraviti ni poznata stara lica, poput kapetana Siniše, grofa Jurice Meška i njegove drage supruge Stanke, kao ni ambicioznog, ali lukavog oca Grandea (ili Anzelma iz prijašnjih knjiga). Nema riječi kojima bih opisao koliko je ova knjiga sjajna i jedva čekam idući mjesec, kada će na red doći posljednji nastavak u serijalu.
I cannot believe that I'm nearing towards the end of the two favorite book series (''The Witch of Grich'' and ''The Last Kingdom''), so I expect for both of them to end with a bang. Especially after so many months of waiting for me to finally catch the next book in a series and see where it's gonna take me in this world of intrigues, which faces the coming of a new age. Continuing where it left off, Zagorka is able, yet again, to surpass herself, combining so many elements of different genres (crime, love, politic, investigation, philosophy), so to invoke everyone's wish to give it a try to this fascinating series, for which I hope will live to see it's full adaptation. What fascinated me the most was the character of the heir to the throne, Josip, who, although young, but ''his own man'', armed with knowledge and resourcefulness, offers a support to Nera in another, seemingly inescapable situation, while in the background there are the true game of thrones played out and a possible war with the potential rivals from all directions (Prussia, Russia). Of course, we can't forgeet the other old, known faces, like the captain Sinisha, the count of Jurica Meshko and his lovely wife Stanka, as well as the ambitious, but cunning father Grande (or Anselmo from previous titles). There aren't words with which to describe how amazing this book is and I'm looking forward to next month, when it's gonna be time for the final sequel in the series.
Uistinu sam oduševljena ovim djelom! Čim više čitam, to se više iznenađujem povezanošću detalja kroz sva Zagorkina djela te se pitam zašto se ovim djelima ne posvećuje pažnja u školskom sustavu...
i would give this book 4.5 stars. It wasn’t as good as the previous books in the series, mainly because it got so political and just too far from the ideas and plot from the first two books. It was also so much, too much. A lot of things happened in the book. BUT! It was still pretty damn good, and I like the informative aspect of it. Its fiction but the real characters and real events were very well described. Its also interesting and kinds scary how a lot of things mentioned in these books are still relevant today, so many years later. Overall this was an amazing and very well written series and I will definitely read it again sometime.
Super! Napokon nakon one Suparnice Marije Terezije opet nešto napeto kao prva tri dijela Gričke vještice. Pročitala sam je u jednom dahu. Now off to the last one. ;)
Malo pocinje da umara kolicina licnosti i zapleta koji nisu naophodni. Deo o Amaliji mi je potpuno nezanimljiv jer sporedni likovi dobijaju glavne uloge kako bi se prica produzila. Ali uprkos tome, i dalje sam odusevljena Zagorkinim mozgom, brigom o detaljima neophodnim za rasplet i spretnoscu da me uvuce ponovo u pricu.
Nera je u izgnanstvu a SIniša počinje da sumnja da se udala za Josipa dok je Josip samo štiti od svoje majke carice i njenog gneva. Prognala bi je kao vešticu, samo da može. Carica ne želi da je pomiluje. Nera raskinkava jednog jezuita koji je bio u nju zaljubljen pa joj sve priznaje.Pojavljuju se mnogi tajni priolazi u dvoru gde su jezuiti držali svoje zarobljenike. Sinišaizaziva Josipa na dvoboj medjutim otkriva da on nema ništa sa Nerom i da mu je Nera bila verna . Carica odustaje od prestola i odlazi u manastir. Glavni jezuit se ubija. Medjutim Josipa tek čekaju nedaće jer on kao car ukida razbacivanje i raskoš koji je elita imala dok je vradala carica.
''Srce je čudne prirode. U boli čini te mrkim starim filozofom a u sreći-detetom.''
''Čuvaj se ljudske zlobe, to je djavo . Onaj iz pakla beži ako se pobožno prekrstiš a ljudska zloba ti sjeda za vrat kao kuga.''
''Ponekad čitav život stradavaš zato što si , ne nekoliko sati već nekoliko minuta zakasnio''
''Kad žena ljubi iz zahvalnosti jer ste bili njen vitez onda budite spremni i svake večeri kad zadje sunce s njim može da zadje i njena ljubav''
''Biste li vi uzeli obeščašćenu devojku ? Uzeo bih i Ludiferovu drolju kada bih je voleo''
''Otvara se knjiga njegova života, stranica pos tranica , nevidljiva ruka sjećanja lista sve dalje i brže. Po uvelim uspomenama padaju tihe suze, nevidjene, neisplakane, ni od koga otirane, sramotne i zapuštene.''
''Pogleda na lijes (mrtvački sanduk). Tu u tom malom prostoru , tu se smiruju boli , suše suze, spokoji se srce, sniva se san iz kojega više ni jedna nesreća ne može da te probudi.''
"Siniša sjedi odjeven pokraj kreveta koji nije ni dotaknut. U duši mu je sve polomljeno, razvaljeno, kao poslije orkana. Sjedi, ne misli, ne osjeća. Mrtav je. Samo srce još tuče. Bulji nepomično u pod." Kako me zabolio ovaj dio teksta kad Siniša čeka na smaknuće, a misli da je Nera tuđa. Čitajući ovaj serijal sa 12 godina i sad sa 28 oba puta izgubim osjećaj da su ovo imaginarni likovi i stopim se sa njima, proživim njihovu, naročito Sinišinu bol.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Finally somewhat of an end. It's nice to see Sinisa and Nera finally together and happy. Josip is my favourite character. I'll stop here for a while, won't read the last book for some time since it's a bit different from the rest.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.