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A delightful selection from one of Europe’s richest folk literatures, The Golden Apple will appeal to a wide range of readers, including children. Admirers of Vasko Popa’s poetry will find it rewarding for the insight it gives into his sources. Illustrated with traditional Serbian rug-motifs.
- GenresPoetry
280 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1980
28 people want to read
About the author
Vasko Popa
92 books65 followersPopa was born in the village of Grebenac, Vojvodina, Serbia. After finishing high school, he enrolled as a student of the University of Belgrade Faculty of Philosophy. He continued his studies at the University of Bucharest and in Vienna. During World War II, he fought as a partisan and was imprisoned in a German concentration camp in Bečkerek (today Zrenjanin, Serbia).
After the war, in 1949, Popa graduated from the Romanic group of the Faculty of Philosophy at Belgrade University. He published his first poems in the magazines Književne novine (Literary Magazine) and the daily Borba (Struggle).
From 1954 until 1979 he was the editor of the publishing house Nolit. In 1953 he published his first major verse collection, Kora (Bark). His other important work included Nepočin-polje (No-Rest Field, 1956), Sporedno nebo (Secondary Heaven, 1968), Uspravna zemlja (Earth Erect, 1972), Vučja so (Wolf Salt, 1975), and Od zlata jabuka (Apple of Gold, 1978), an anthology of Serbian folk literature. His Collected Poems, 1943–1976, a compilation in English translation, appeared in 1978, with an introduction by the British poet Ted Hughes.
On May 29, 1972 Vasko Popa founded The Literary Municipality Vršac and originated a library of postcards, called Slobodno lišće (Free Leaves). In the same year, he was elected to become a member of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts.
Vasko Popa is one of the founders of Vojvodina Academy of Sciences and Arts, established on December 14, 1979 in Novi Sad. He is the first laureate of the Branko’s award (Brankova nagrada) for poetry, established in honour of the poet Branko Radičević. In the year 1957 Popa received another award for poetry, Zmaj’s Award (Zmajeva nagrada), which honours the poet Jovan Jovanović Zmaj. In 1965 Popa received the Austrian state award for European literature. In 1976 he received the Branko Miljković poetry award, in 1978 the Yugoslav state AVNOJ Award, and in 1983 the literary award Skender Kulenović.
In 1995, the town of Vršac established a poetry award named after Vasko Popa. It is awarded annually for the best book of poetry published in Serbian language. The award ceremony is held on the day of Popa’s birthday, 29 June.
Vasko Popa died on January 5, 1991 in Belgrade and is buried in the Aisle of the Deserving Citizens in Belgrade’s New Cemetery.
After the war, in 1949, Popa graduated from the Romanic group of the Faculty of Philosophy at Belgrade University. He published his first poems in the magazines Književne novine (Literary Magazine) and the daily Borba (Struggle).
From 1954 until 1979 he was the editor of the publishing house Nolit. In 1953 he published his first major verse collection, Kora (Bark). His other important work included Nepočin-polje (No-Rest Field, 1956), Sporedno nebo (Secondary Heaven, 1968), Uspravna zemlja (Earth Erect, 1972), Vučja so (Wolf Salt, 1975), and Od zlata jabuka (Apple of Gold, 1978), an anthology of Serbian folk literature. His Collected Poems, 1943–1976, a compilation in English translation, appeared in 1978, with an introduction by the British poet Ted Hughes.
On May 29, 1972 Vasko Popa founded The Literary Municipality Vršac and originated a library of postcards, called Slobodno lišće (Free Leaves). In the same year, he was elected to become a member of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts.
Vasko Popa is one of the founders of Vojvodina Academy of Sciences and Arts, established on December 14, 1979 in Novi Sad. He is the first laureate of the Branko’s award (Brankova nagrada) for poetry, established in honour of the poet Branko Radičević. In the year 1957 Popa received another award for poetry, Zmaj’s Award (Zmajeva nagrada), which honours the poet Jovan Jovanović Zmaj. In 1965 Popa received the Austrian state award for European literature. In 1976 he received the Branko Miljković poetry award, in 1978 the Yugoslav state AVNOJ Award, and in 1983 the literary award Skender Kulenović.
In 1995, the town of Vršac established a poetry award named after Vasko Popa. It is awarded annually for the best book of poetry published in Serbian language. The award ceremony is held on the day of Popa’s birthday, 29 June.
Vasko Popa died on January 5, 1991 in Belgrade and is buried in the Aisle of the Deserving Citizens in Belgrade’s New Cemetery.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
February 28, 2016
An odd little gem of an anthology. All the pieces within were collected from previously published sources and loosely refashioned by Popa.
Proverbs and curses stand side by side with lyrical songs and folktales, and the end result is a dreamy, impressionistic snapshot of the Serbo-Croatian folkloric tradition.
Proverbs and curses stand side by side with lyrical songs and folktales, and the end result is a dreamy, impressionistic snapshot of the Serbo-Croatian folkloric tradition.
June 27, 2019
Fun and grim and magical and odd.
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November 9, 2019I enjoyed flipping through this book, but found that many of the stories fell flat: perhaps these don't translate so well or perhaps cultural differences make it hard to easily follow or perhaps they just didn't resonate with me. Some of the proverbs made me smile: Don't meddle with muck or the pigs will eat you. OR What use are pearls if they choke me? & I liked the curses a lot. I am glad I borrowed this one from the library, it was a nice change of pace.
January 30, 2012
A perfect, quick survey of Serbian folktales/poems/riddles/proverbs. A worthy introduction to the tradition that birthed Popa and glimpses of the skeletons of the thoughts to led to his poetry. It could have been twice as long and just as worth reading. I've also been on a folk lit kick recently, so this is the caveat.
July 26, 2011
In this book is a collection of short folk tales, poems, proverbs, spells, etc. translated from Serbian to English. It's an interesting and quirky collection, but I feel like I didn't get much out of it. It seems to me that a lot of the meaning has been 'lost in translation'.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews