Hrvatska književnost od Preporoda do stvaranja Jugoslavije: Knjiga I. Književnost ilirizma

Book I: The Literature of Illyrianism is the introductory volume of a great synthesis by Antun Barac, one of the most important Croatian literary historians of the 20th century. The work covers literary development from the beginnings of the Croatian National Revival to the political and cultural period preceding the creation of the Kingdom of SHS. Barac systematically presents the ideological foundations of the Illyrian movement, its literary program, and the role it played in shaping national identity and the modernization of Croatian culture.

The book is structured so that it first explains the historical circumstances in which the Illyrian movement emerged — the collapse of the old feudal order, the awakening of Slavic ideas, the desire for cultural and linguistic unification. After that, Barac analyzes the key literary phenomena and authors of that period: Ljudevit Gaj and his normative work, Stanko Vraz, Dragutin Rakovec, Dimitrij Demet, Ivan Mažuranić, and other creators who shaped the fundamental poetics of the Renaissance era.

Special attention is paid to the development of poetry, prose and theatre, the influences of European romanticism, the characteristic motifs of national awakening and the struggle for language standardisation. Barac emphasises that the literature of Illyrianism was more than an aesthetic phenomenon: it was an instrument of political and cultural emancipation, a means of bringing people together and shaping a common consciousness.

Barac's style is characterised by clear argumentation, rich historical insights and the ability to connect literary phenomena with social processes. Croatian Literature from the Renaissance to the Creation of Yugoslavia is still a fundamental work for understanding Croatian literary historiography, and Book I represents the most complete overview of the literature of the Illyrian period in one whole.