Preliminary communication
The Image of Križevci in Bogović's Novella Šilo za ognjilo (Tit for Tat)
Dejan Pernjak
orcid.org/0000-0003-3064-3368
Abstract
A reconstruction of life in Križevci and the leisure activities of the petty bourgeois in the mid-19th based on Šilo za ognjilo (Tit for Tat), a short story by Mirko Bogović first published in 1853, is presented in the paper. The author bases his reconstruction on the arrival of the Križevci County grand prefect to Križevci. Since the storyline is set in the 1820s, the author states that it is possible that the mentioned event was either the reception of Franjo Bedeković Komorski (grand prefect from 1852 to 1827) or Ljudevit Bedeković Komorski (grand prefect from 1827 to 1837). The gates that separated the upper, middle and lower sections of the town were already demolished by then. The population of Križevci at the time was between 1200 (1805) and 2200 (1857), and there were only five brick houses at the beginning of the century. The author uses the short story to “enter” into a citizen’s house and its rooms, giving a description of the garments that could be found there such as atila and dolama (types of jackets) or surka (tunic), etc. In addition, the author gives a possible description of such an event in Križevci, from the arrival of the guests to the formal dinner. The centre of social life at the time was an inn called K zelenom drvetu, which also doubled as a place where theater plays could be staged. The author also mentions the various societies and associations that were established before the mid-19th century through which Križevci became a part of the Illyirian Movement. In the final part the author states that the aspirations and achievements of the 19th century show that life in Križevci unfolded in the same manner as in bigger centers or the capital.
Keywords
Križevci; grand prefect; Mirko Bogović; Šilo za ognjilo (Tit for Tat); reading room; Illyrianism; 19th Century
Hrčak ID:
175620
URI
Publication date:
28.12.2016.
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