Mandaljena pobjednica

The Mandal's Victorious Woman (1926) is a historical novel by Velimir Deželić Sr. (1864–1941), one of the most popular but later ideologically neglected Croatian writers. The novel belongs to his opus of eleven historical novels in which, inspired by the Šeno tradition, he sought to awaken the national and Catholic spirit.

The main character is a real person – Magdalena Pereš Vuksanović (1606–1670), born in Jelaške, Bosnia. As a girl, she vowed chastity to the Virgin Mary and wanted to become a nun, but during the Turkish period there were no women's monasteries in Bosnia. She lived a pious life in her parents' home. Her beauty attracts suitors, especially the persistent Christian Franjo Božić, who, with the help of his brother, kidnaps her and forces her into marriage. Faced with the choice between a Catholic and a Turk, Magdalena agrees to a "Catholic marriage", but deeply regrets it because it violates her vow.

The novel follows her turbulent, adventurous life full of trials: escape from her husband, various services (with the paor, the kiridžija, the Turks), rescuing noblemen (e.g. Vuk Zrinski), travels through Dalmatia, Venice and finally Rome. As the Bosnian Joan of Arc, she preserves her faith, honor and Croatian identity in the difficult circumstances of Turkish rule. The story ends with her entering the third order of St. Francis and her death in Rome with a reputation for holiness.

The structure of the novel strongly resembles medieval saintly biographies (hagiographies): a linear narrative, a series of independent episodes-obstacles that the heroine overcomes on the path to holiness and union with the "Heavenly Bridegroom". Deželić interweaves historical facts, legend and a romantic-historical style with strong Catholic, anti-Turkish and national (Croatian-Catholic) undertones. The Virgin Mary is depicted as a guide on her journey.