Barun Ivica / Čuvaj se senjske ruke

Baron Ivica / Beware of the Hands of Senj is the 15th book in the Collected Works of August Šenoa published by Naklada knjižara Preporod. This book combines two of Šenoa's most widely read and beloved stories that perfectly demonstrate the author's versatility – from cheerful humor to dynamic adventure prose.

Baron Ivica is a humorous, satirical story about a young, naive and somewhat foolish baron who comes to his estate and faces rural life, cunning subjects and his own aristocratic prejudices. Here, Šenoa portrays the provincial nobility, peasants and everyday events with a lot of warmth and irony, creating one of the most entertaining pictures of the Croatian 19th century.

Beware of the Hands of Senj, on the other hand, brings a true adventure drama set in the turbulent 16th century. The novel depicts the legendary Senj Uskok group, its daring campaigns against the Turks and Venetians, and life in the border town of Senj. Šenoa masterfully evokes the heroic spirit of the Uskoks, their conflicts, love affairs, and the difficult, dangerous life on the border of the empire. The work exudes dynamism, heroic ideals, and rich historical color.

This edition, like the others in the Revival edition (1942–1943), features recognizable and artistically powerful illustrations by Andrija Maurović. His drawings on the cover and within the text perfectly accompany Šenoa's lively and picturesque style – from the humorous scenes in Baron Ivica to the dramatic scenes of the Senj Uskoks.

The book is ideal for readers who love classic Croatian prose in which humor, history, and adventure intertwine. Both works are easy to read and can be read in one sitting, and Maurović's illustrations give it a special antique charm and collector's value.