Pozdrav domovini

The collection "Pozdrav domovini" ("Greeting to the Homeland" – 1970 edition) presents an overview of the most significant poetic works of Petar Preradović (1818–1872), one of the greatest and most prolific poets of Croatian Romanticism and the Illyrian movement. Named after his renowned patriotic poem, this book gathers verses that played a pivotal role in the formation of Croatian national consciousness and modern 19th-century literature. At the heart of Preradović’s body of work lies a profound, almost mystical love for his homeland and his native language—a language to which the poet returned following his education at an Austrian military academy and a long absence from his birthplace. The collection includes his most famous patriotic and stirring poems—such as "Zora puca, bit će dana" ("Dawn Breaks, the Day Will Come"), "Rodu o jeziku" ("To My People, Regarding Language"), "Putnik" ("The Traveler"), and "Pozdrav domovini"—in which fervor, hope for freedom, and sorrow over the disunity of his people are interwoven. In addition to patriotic themes, this edition features intimate, romantic, and reflective-philosophical poetry (such as "Mrtva ljubav" ["Dead Love"] and "Ljudsko srce" ["The Human Heart"]), imbued with melancholy, personal loss, and contemplations on the transience of life. Through his melodic verse, elevated tone, and sincere emotion, Preradović has remained an enduring symbol of Croatian poetry and devotion to the homeland.