Damjanovo jezero: bajke

In the fairy tale that gave the collection its title, little Damian arrives at the shore of a mysterious lake and finds a golden stone at the bottom. When he touches the stone, he sees before him not only a reflection of his dreams, but also an echo of love and justice. The stone whispers to him that “evil must be shaken with good,” and Damian realizes that he too can bring good – with small deeds and a heart full of hope.

In each story, the characters – whether children from humble homes or poor peasants – face challenges: unjust rulers, false miracle workers, evil witches. But, as happens in good fairy tales, their ingenuity and courage open the door to salvation. Whether they are freeing themselves from the power of dragons, finding hidden treasure, or restoring justice, each hero fights his own battle; good is always rewarded, and evil is punished.

The atmosphere of the collection balances between the classic fairy tale black and white ethical line and contemporary warmth: Gardaš uses familiar folk motifs – fairies, wizards, brave shepherds – but tells them in a language familiar to children of the 90s. Although some stories were written down long ago, we feel them happening right now, near us, because the author believes: “Fairy tales are not far from us. They are in you, in us.”