Fran Levstik

Fran Levstik

Fran Levstik (28 September 1831 – 16 November 1887) was a Slovene writer, political activist, playwright and critic. he was one of the most prominent exponents of the Young Slovene political movement.

Life and work

He was born in Dolnje Retje (now part of the municipality of Velike Lašče) in Lower Carniola (then part of the Austrian Empire, today in Slovenia) in a peasant Slovene family.

Levstik was the first notable writer of Slovene epic prose. Among his most known works are the short tale Martin Krpan, which became a classic work of Slovene literature, and the itinerary Popotovanje iz Litije do Čateža, whose main objective is actually that of a literary manifesto. In the critical essay Napake slovenskega pisanja, he exposed his views on the development of the Slovene literary language.

Levstik was one of the main exponents of the Young Slovenes, a progressive and radical political group akin to the Young Czechs in the Czech Lands that challenged the then prevailing influence of conservatives, led by Janez Bleiweis, within the Slovenian National Movement. In his late years, he grew closer to Pan-Slavist ideals.

Levstik and his literary program had a great influence on future generations of Slovene authors of national liberal views, especially Josip Jurčič, Josip Stritar, Janko Kersnik, Anton Aškerc, Janez Trdina and Ivan Tavčar.

He died in Ljubljana and is buried in the Navje cemetery.

Bibliography

Prose

• Martin Krpan z Vrha / Popotovanje iz Litije do Čateža. Ljubljana: Mladinska knjiga, 1958. COBISS 2827009
• Deseti brat. Ljubljana: Mladinska knjiga, 1863
• Zveženj; Iz minule srečne mladosti; Spomini o verah in mislih prostega naroda; Pokljuk; Sveti doktor Bežanec v Tožbanji vasi. Izbrano delo. Ljubljana: Mladinska knjiga, 1870. COBISS 1875998
• Kdo je napravil Vidku srajčico. Ljubljana: Mladinska knjiga, 1955. COBISS 328990

Poetry

• Pesmi (1854) COBISS 18173440:

Uvod, Boginji petja, Edina last, Speča deklica, Popotnik, Na vseh svetnikov dan, Koledniki, Povsod ni sreče, Pomladni sprehod, Razni glasovi, Na grobu Prešerna.

• Tonine pesmi (1859):

Prvi poljub, Srečni mrak, Prazna prisega, Ljubezen, Vihra, Dve otvi, V gozdu, Tiha žalost, Mrtva ljubezen,

• Franjine pesmi (1870):

Senčnica, Uvela kita cvetja, Poročilo, Nevesta, Zakaj?, Kaj sem Ti storil?, Reki, Slovo, Ohraba.

• Pripovedne pesmi:

Ubežni kralj COBISS 53836288 Knezov sin, Roža, Na Gorenjskem, Dekle in ptica.

• Refleksije:

Domotožnost, Opomon do veselja, Pomlad, Omnia evanescunt, Umetnik, Knjižna modrost, Obup, Boj, Naša nesreča.

• Satire:

Župnikove sanje, Svetemu Eliji, Slovenska literatura, V spomin rajnega Napreja, Ljudski glas, Molčimo!, Sovražnikom, Roman.

• Pesmi za mladino - otroške pesmi:

Naša vas, Živa cvetlica, Kadar otrok lovi luno in zvezde, Rimska cesta, Preprostega otroka molitev, Kako je v Korotani, Jež in lisica, Mačka, miš in miška.

Dramatics

• Juntez (1855) dlib
• Tugomer (1876)