Tales of Long Ago

Tales of Long Ago (Priče iz davnine) in the translation of the UNIMA edition brings a series of fairy tales by Ivana Brlić-Mažuranić, shaped in the spirit of Slavic mythology, but imbued with universal themes of good, evil, love and responsibility. Each story opens up a world in which fairy beings, divine creatures, little house spirits, giants and brave people intertwine, and all together form a unique mythological landscape of Croatian literature.

The collection includes the most famous tales: Šuma Striborova — a tale about a mother who chooses love for her son despite his blindness; Regoč — an epic story about a kind-hearted giant and the fairy Kosjenka; Fisherman Palunko and his wife — an adventure about desires, temptations and maturation; Jagor — a boy's journey into a world full of wonders; Kako je Potjeh zajilo vertin — a philosophical fairy tale about an inner search; and stories about Malik Tintilic and other ghostly or mysterious beings.

UNIMA’s translation retains the poetics of the original, the rhythm of folk tales, and the warmth of the author’s language, while making it accessible to an international audience. Brlić-Mažuranić masterfully combines moral lessons with rich imagination: the characters learn about forgiveness, courage, humility, and true values, and the world of the fairy tale becomes a space in which miracles are not an escape from reality, but a way to understand it more deeply.