Ilijina oporuka / Lijepa Anka

Ilija's Testament / Beautiful Anka is the 16th book of Collected Works of August Šenoa published by Naklada knjižara Preporod. This book brings two extremely striking and thematically diverse stories that demonstrate Šenoa's breadth – from sharp social criticism to romantic drama.

Ilija's Testament (1876) is a sharp satire on bourgeois society in the first half of the 19th century. Šenoa masterfully depicts immorality, wastefulness, hypocrisy and the decline of a Zagreb bourgeois family. Through the story of a rich will and the struggle over an inheritance, the author criticizes materialism, false values ​​and the moral decline of social classes, creating a gallery of vivid, often caricatured characters full of irony and humor.

Beautiful Anka is a romantic and tragic story that stands out for its emotional power and vivid depiction of provincial life. The story follows the fate of the beautiful and noble Anka, whose love encounters social obstacles, class differences and human malice. Here, Šenoa combines romantic enthusiasm with a realistic depiction of customs, prejudices and the difficult position of women in the 19th century, creating a touching and unforgettable story.

This edition, like the entire Renaissance edition (1942–1943), is adorned with recognizable and artistically valuable illustrations by Andrija Maurović. His dynamic drawings on the cover and within the text perfectly evoke the atmosphere of both stories – from satirical scenes of a bourgeois salon to romantic and dramatic scenes of rural and provincial surroundings.

The book is ideal for lovers of classical Croatian literature who enjoy Šenoa's rich narrative style, social criticism and emotional stories. Both works are easy to read and can be read in one sitting, and Maurović's illustrations give the edition a special antiquarian charm and collector's value.