Pjesme II – Epske pjesme

Poems II – Epic Poems is the 10th book of Collected Works of August Šenoa published by Naklada knjižara Preporod. This volume brings the second, epic part of Šenoa's poetry and shows it in a completely different, more grandiose light than intimate lyrics.

This part is dominated by epic and narrative poems, ballads and longer poetic stories with historical, patriotic and legendary motifs. Here Šenoa revives the Croatian past – heroic battles against the Turks, medieval conflicts, folk legends and tragic fates of heroes. His epic poems exude strong national enthusiasm, drama and richly picturesque language, often reminiscent of the style of folk epics, but shaped by the modern romantic spirit of the 19th century.

Of particular note are poems inspired by Croatian history, heroic ideals and the suffering of the people. In these works, Šenoa demonstrates exceptional storytelling skills in verse as well – the plot flows dynamically, the characters are alive, and the descriptive parts are rich and picturesque.

This edition, as well as the entire Renaissance edition (1942–1943), is adorned with recognizable and artistically powerful illustrations by Andrija Maurović. His expressive drawings on the cover and inside the book perfectly accompany the epic, dramatic tone of the poems – battles, heroic figures and historical scenes – making this volume a true visual and collector’s gem.

Poems II completes the picture of August Šenoa as a complete writer – not only a novelist and storyteller, but also a significant poet. It is ideal for lovers of Croatian poetry, patriotic literature and those who love epic themes and historical motifs in verse.