Poezija, Camao, Oko Lobora i druga proza

A selection of works by Antun Gustav Matoš, published in 2003 under the title "Poetry, Camao, Oko lovora i druga prosa" (The Eye of Laurel and Other Prose), presents a comprehensive insight into the work of one of the most important and influential writers of Croatian modernity. This book brings together three key dimensions of Matoš's oeuvre in one place: his masterful lyric poetry, anthological short prose, and insightful essays and criticism. The poetic section includes anthological sonnets and poems in which Matoš combines symbolism and impressionism. Through motifs of homeland, love, transience, death, and national pride — imbued with the supreme musicality of verse and formal perfection — he created the foundations of contemporary Croatian poetry. The prose section is led by the early short story "Camao," one of the first works of Croatian fantasy and symbolism, in which the motifs of love, jealousy, and tragedy intertwine with mystical elements. In addition to it, other short stories are also presented that depict Matoš as a master of psychological analysis, the grotesque, and the impressionistic landscape. The essay section, headed by the entry "Eye of the Laurel", reveals Matoš as an uncompromising literary critic, polemicist and aesthete fascinated by beauty and artistic freedom. The 2003 edition is a valuable overview for all who wish to fully understand the versatility and lasting significance of this great figure of Croatian literature.