Marija Jurić Zagorka

Author profile

born

in Negovec, Croatia

January 01, 1873

died

November 30, 1957

gender

female

website

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marija_Juri%C4%87_...

genre

Historical Fiction, Romance, Literature & Fiction

About this author

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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-i...more 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.(less)

combine editions
Marija Jurić Zagorka's Books

Average rating: 4.41 · 3,031 ratings · 50 reviews · 38 distinct works · Similar authors

	Tajna Krvavog mosta (Grička vještica, #1) 4.45 of 5 stars 4.45 avg rating — 385 ratings — published 1912 — 4 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Kontesa Nera (Grička vještica, #2) 4.54 of 5 stars 4.54 avg rating — 298 ratings — published 1913 — 3 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Grička vještica I - VII 4.53 of 5 stars 4.53 avg rating — 269 ratings — published 1920	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Kći Lotršćaka 4.29 of 5 stars 4.29 avg rating — 260 ratings — published 1922 — 2 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Malleus maleficarum (Grička vještica, #3) 4.52 of 5 stars 4.52 avg rating — 227 ratings — published 1914 — 3 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Suparnica Marije Terezije (Grička vještica, #4) 4.38 of 5 stars 4.38 avg rating — 199 ratings — published 1976 — 5 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Plameni inkvizitori I & II 4.6 of 5 stars 4.60 avg rating — 186 ratings — published 1986 — 3 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Suparnica Marije Terezije II (Grička vještica, #5) 4.39 of 5 stars 4.39 avg rating — 166 ratings — 3 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Dvorska kamarila (Grička vještica, #6) 4.42 of 5 stars 4.42 avg rating — 160 ratings — 3 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Buntovnik na prijestolju (Grička vještica, #7) 4.37 of 5 stars 4.37 avg rating — 148 ratings — published 1987 — 2 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by Marija Jurić Zagorka…

Series by Marija Jurić Zagorka

Grička vještica (9 books)
by Marija Jurić Zagorka
4.456637168141593 of 5 stars 4.46 avg rating — 1,695 ratings

Republikanci (4 books)
by Marija Jurić Zagorka
4.351648351648351 of 5 stars 4.35 avg rating — 91 ratings

Quotes by Marija Jurić Zagorka

“Kašalj i ljubav ne mogu se sakriti. A tko hoće da to sakriva, postaje jako smiješan.”
― Marija Jurić Zagorka, Kontesa Nera

9 people liked it

“Nije li čudno što se ljudi tako rado bore za svoju vjeru, a tako nerado žive po njenim zakonima.”
― Marija Jurić Zagorka, Grička vještica I - VII

7 people liked it

“Ima vjerne vječne ljubavi, no samo za odabrane.”
― Marija Jurić Zagorka, Grička vještica I - VII

6 people liked it

See all Marija Jurić Zagorka's quotes »

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