Original scientific paper
Popular Writer Zvonimir Pužar and Križevci 1910-1923
Mira Kolar-Dimitrijević
; Frana Gundruma 1a, HR-48260 Križevci
Abstract
Zvonimir Pužar (Zajezda 30/01/1875 - Zagreb 13/04/1926) was a typographer and a popular writer. He worked as editor for various magazines and also wrote himself - articles, historical and social stories. First being a member of the Croatian Party of Rights he later supported the Croatian Popular Peasant Party, performing various jobs for the opposition. According to what we know today, he worked in Varaždin, Požega, Petrinja, Zagreb, leaving traces along the way in the form of written and printed word.
He learned the typographic craft in Križevci at Gustav Neuberg’s, and was specially fond of Križevci, studying its history for years and writing historical stories. For Križevci he also produced the books Križevački statuti (Statutes of Križevci) (Križevci, 1912) and Pjesmarica (Songbook), which Križevci is very proud of even today and which are inexorable sources of folk tradition. He wrote many historical stories and novels based on Croatian history, following many other writers of the period, when the historical style was popular.
Although Pužar falls behind in quality compared to Šenoa, Tomić and others, his value lies in concentrating on themes from Križevci, resulting in the novels: Life for a life, head for a head or The revenge in Kalnik (Križevci, 1910), The beauty from Križevci or Fighting for the right (Križevci, 1910), Peasants’ revolt in the region of Križevci in 1755 (Križevci, 1911), Life or death or The victim of revenge, Captain’s darling or Traitor’s fee (Križevci, 1912).
Many Pužar’s articles dealing with social issues can be found in Hrvatski ratni koledar (Croatian war caroler), which was published in Križevci. He also published a chronicle of the first and secon Balcanian wars, in which he, like many others at the time, gave support to the idea of a brotherly South Slavic state. His stories about Kraljević Marko and Miloš Obilić belong to the same context.
Since 1917 he was actively engaged on providing care for the hungry Hercegovinian, Dalmatian, Istrian and Bosnian children in northern parts of the country, organized by National protection and coordinated by dr Gjuro Basariček and dr Josip Šilović.
Pužar wrote and worked a great deal and, in my opinion, he especially indebted Križevci which should always remeber him.
Keywords
Zvonimir Pužar; popular writer; typographer; editor; Statutes of Križevci
Hrčak ID:
93702
URI
Publication date:
18.12.2003.
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