Književni časovi

Literary Lessons represent one of Vojnović's most important prose books and a kind of synthesis of his literary, historiographical and journalistic interests. The work gathers texts written between 1890 and 1905. In them, Vojnović does not write classical history, but combines a document, an essay, a travelogue, a literary sketch and a meditation on the past. For this reason, the book is often defined as a collection of literary and historical records.

The central place in the collection is occupied by Dubrovnik and its cultural heritage. Texts such as "Two Days on Lopud", "In Ston", "Osman under the Republic", "Serafin Gučetić – 1535" and "A Son of Marojica Kaboga" bring to life people, landscapes and events from Dubrovnik's past. The author, through archival material and personal observations, reconstructs the world of the Dubrovnik Republic and emphasizes its cultural and political uniqueness. At the same time, the essays “Pero Budmani” and “Death of Dubrovnik Rocks” testify to Vojnović’s concern for language, literature and the preservation of Dubrovnik’s heritage.

The last texts, “A Test of Conscience” and “The Annexation of Bosnia Before History”, expand the focus from local history to contemporary political issues. In this way, the book shows that the author does not view the past as dead material, but as a foundation for understanding the present. Literary Lessons is therefore not just a collection of essays, but also a literary monument to Dubrovnik’s history and spirituality.

Contents of the collection: Two Days on Lopud; In Ston; Osman under the Republic; Serafin Gučetić – 1535; The Alexandrian Question; One Son of Marojica Kaboga; Pero Budmani; Death of Dubrovnik Rocks; A Test of Conscience; The Annexation of Bosnia Before History.