Veli Jože

by Vladimir Nazor, Martin Mayhew (Translator)

‘Veli Jože’ by Croatian author Vladimir Nazor (1876–1949) is a fantasy story of a giant who spends his life serving the townspeople and Venetian nobility of the hilltop village of Motovun in Istria, Croatia. His struggle for freedom from servitude and to live with the few remaining giants of the land involves myths, legends, dragons, witches, magic and other supernatural elements. Nazor’s most famous story was first published in book form in 1908. Nazor later refined and adapted this text for children and it has been part of educational reading material for decades. This English translation was made using the original unedited 1908 version, and includes the supernatural elements, as well as the original illustrations. Also included is Nazor’s personal account of how he created the character of Veli Jože based on his experiences of Istrian life during the first years of the 20th century when this part of the world was under the rule of the Austrian Empire. This is the first time an English translation has been widely available.

Genres: Childrens, Classics, School, Read For School, Fiction

128 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1908

About the author

Vladimir Nazor was one of the greatest and most famous Croatian poets. He was a writer, translator, and a humanist. Although he had not been an active politician until 1941, he had a significant political influence through ethical aspects of his work.

Reviews

[Vanja · Rating 3 out of 5]

Inače sam od svih tih priča čitala Vodu. Priča je u nekim trenucima zbunjujuća i tužna te ponešto i zanimljiva (dobila 5 iz lektire 🤗🥳).

[Bruno · Rating 5 out of 5]

CRO/ENG
Samo da ne bude zabune, izdanje knjige, koju ja imam, posjeduje ''Velog Jožu'', ''Boškarinu'' i ''Vodu'', tako da ne mogu komentirati pripovijetku ''Svjetionik''. Što se navedenih djela tiče, pročitao sam ih barem dva puta, a ''Voda'' je bila i lektira u školi, pa ću početi prvo sa tim naslovom. Jako me se dojmio opis situacije u kojoj ljudi nastoje prebroditi sušu, koja je zadesila njihov otok, što se vidi na njihovom emotivnom ocrtavanju (žeđ, nervoza, fizički obračun). To je predstavljanje reakcija kakve jesu na krajnjim granicama ljudske izdržljivosti i mnogi bi tako postupili u identičnoj situaciji. Druga važna tema kojom se pisac bavi je i pitanje perspektive za mlade naraštaje, sa namjerom da njihova djela čine razliku u ljudskom društvu. ''Boškarina'', iako kratka, uspjeva na jednoj lokaciji prikazati dva suprotna svijeta i njihove plodove rada, što me podsjeća na blažu inspiraciju priče o Kainu i Abelu (bogatstvo u sadržaju ispred bogatstva u veličini i količini). ''Veli Jože'' je, poput istoimenog protagonista, div među hrvatski pripovijetkama (ili novelama) i predstavlja vrlinu seljaka, odnosno većine, kojom konstantno manipuliraju intelektualci ili snalažljivi ljudi u vlastite svrhe (stjecanje bogatsva ili ugleda). Djelo, također, prikazuje i tešku adaptaciju na novo razdoblje, koje, kako je povijest uvijek pokazivala, ima jasne naznake za početak, ali zahtjevan proces integracije. Kolektivno, priče su različite, po pitanju tema, društvenih slojeva i lokacija, ali sve dijele moj zajednički dojam, a taj je da su izvrsne i namijenjene široj čitalačkoj populaciji.

Just so that there's no confusion, the edition of the book, that I have, contains ''Veli Joze'', ''Boskarina'' and ''The Water'', so I cannot comment the short story ''Lighthouse''. Regarding the mentioned works, I've read each of them at least twice, and ''The Water'' was a part of essay at school, so I'm going to start with this one. I was very impressed by the it's description and the way people are trying to overcome dry season, which has befallen upon their island, which can be seen on their emotional expression (thirst, anxiety, physical conflict). This is the representation of reactions that are on the breaking point of human endurance and many would react that in the same situation. The other main theme which is within the author's focus is a matter of perspective for younger generations, with the intention of showing the difference their deeds have within society. ''Boskarina'', although short, is successful to show on one location two different worlds and the fruits of their labours, which reminds on a much milder version about Cain and Abel (the richness of content over the richness in size and quantity). ''Veli Joze'' is, like it's main protagonist, a giant among Croatian short stories (or novellas) and shows the virtue of a peasant, that is majority, who is constantly manipulated by intellectuals or skillful people for their own purpose (gaining of fortune or fame). The work, also, shows the difficulty of adapting to a new period, which, as history always shows, has clear indications for beginning, but demanding process of integration. Collectively, the stories are different, in the matter of themes, social classes and locations, but they all share my mutual impression, and that's that they are excellent and meant for the wider audience of readers.

[Dora · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had to read it so I could do my book report and it wasn't really good but it also isn't the worst thing ever. All in all I dont' reccomand.

[Ivan Damjanović · Rating 4 out of 5]

U izdanju- 2 poluautografske pripovijetke (Nero i Požar) i 2 polufantastične (Jože i Boškarina). Doduše, i u prve dvije ima određenih fantastičnih (oniričnih) elemenata. U zadnje dvije ostao sam zatečen razinom lucidnosti te moram reći da Nazorova reputacija bome ima temelja ne samo u "političkom" djelovanju ("Legende o drugu Titu" (1946)), već i u književnom. Prve dvije spomenute smatram da su izrazito pogodne za lektiru sedmoškolaca, kako sugerira i ovo izdanje, dok zadnje dvije, pogotovo dosta brutalni i, za taj uzrast, jezično i idejno nerazumljivi Veli Jože (inače, pripovijetka iznimnog stila, originalnosti, ideja, likova i intrigantnosti) i nisu baš. Boškarina je prožeta i dodatnom dozom humora koji se često prenosi putem autentičnog dijalektalnog (čakavskog) govora (kao i u Joži, koji je, apropos, 'reread'- čitao sam ga u osnovnoj školi, ostao mi je u dobrom sjećanju, ali fabulu sam, iskreno, dobrim dijelom zaboravio pa mi je ugl. bilo 'spoiler free' čitanje) kojim Nazor često implicitno karakterizira likove. Ta također vrlo originalna i zanimljiva pripovijetka asocira me na uspješnicu "Vranac" TS Zlatni dukati, a nema dvojbe da se može staviti u istu rečenicu s poetički bliskim (grotesknim i humornim) tekstovima Gogolja i Bulgakova.

[Martin Mayhew · Rating 4 out of 5]

First ever English translation of Vladimir Nazor’s tale of the legendary giant Jože and his struggle against his oppressors, centred around the Istrian hilltop town of Motovun, Croatia. It was originally published in 1908 and reprinted dozens of times. The edition used for this first English translation was published around 1930. The story is symbolic of the Istrian/Croatian fight for autonomy and has been part of the literary curriculum for school children for many years.

[Dalen Belić · Rating 3 out of 5]

Veli Jože 4,5/5
Voda 2/5
Anđeo u zvoniku 1/5
Nero 3.5/5
Mali Štefek s Medveščaka 5/5

[Katarina · Rating 3 out of 5]

HRV: Kao dijete, iako sam ponekad u čitanju njih dolazila do poteškoća, i dalje sam uživala u čitanju narodnih pripovijesti. Ova knjiga ostaje mi u pozitivnom sjećanju.

ENG: I remember this book fondly, as it made me enjoy folk tales, even if I would sometimes have hardships reading them.

[Hana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another one I had to read for school

[bee · Rating 1 out of 5]

Really boring.

[Eena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nisam očekivala da će Dupin imati takav kraj

[Adam · Rating 1 out of 5]

Neshvatljiva knjiga.