Dnevnik 2: Dnevnik 1918-22 (Davni dani II)

Diary 1918–22 (Old Days II) continues the autobiographical arc begun in the war records, but now in a completely different atmosphere – in the years of turbulent post-war, revolutions, state reorganizations and profound social changes. In this diary, Krleža observes a time in which the collapse of Austria-Hungary brings a sense of freedom, but also disappointment: instead of the expected creation of a new, more just world, old patterns of power, nationalisms, political showdowns and ideological deviations appear on the scene.

The records reflect Krleža's disappointment with intellectuals who, instead of moral engagement, choose compromises and adaptation. He harshly comments on the petty-bourgeois mentality, cultural provincialism and the inability of society to face its own past. His blade is particularly pointed towards political illusions: Bolshevism as an ideal that is transformed into a repressive practice, as well as Yugoslav unitarism that creates new tensions. Krleža remains left-wing, but deeply critical of all forms of dogma and ideological blindness.

At the same time, Diary reveals his inner struggle. This is a period of personal and artistic searching, in which he records doubts about his own creativity, sketches future literary projects, and ponders the meaning of literature in a world full of violence and nonsense. The style is dense, fragmentary, full of intellectual associations and deeply emotional tones – a combination of historical reflection and introspective nakedness.

Krleža records the everyday life of Zagreb and the new state: political speeches, cafe conversations, cultural clashes, empty promises of revolutionary programs. One can feel the fatigue of a generation that expected social upheaval, but welcomed a new bureaucracy and old hypocrisy under new names. This is precisely why Diary 1918–22 carries a strong critical note: it is not just a personal note, but a testimony to an epoch in which idealism breaks under the weight of reality.

This book is a key document for understanding Krleža's worldview: his doubt, his moral unrest, and his obsession with truth. Davni dani II shows how one of the most important writers of the Yugoslav space was formed in the years when history was fractured – and how this fracture shaped his literature.