Dane Zajc

Dane Zajc (26 October 1929 – 20 October 2005) was a Slovenian poet and playwright. He served as president of the Slovene Writers' Association (1991–1995), and was awarded the prestigious Prešeren Award for lifetime achievement. Together with Edvard Kocbek and Gregor Strniša, he is considered the most important Slovenian poet of the second half of the 20th century.

Life

He was born as Danijel Zajc in the Upper Carniolan village of Zgornja Javoršica near Moravče, in a relatively wealthy peasant family. He was traumatized by the experience of World War II. At the age of 13, he witnessed the brutal death of his father, when the Nazis burned his home, throwing his father in the flames. Two of his brothers fell in the Partisan resistance. During the war years, he dropped out of school. He continued his education after 1945, first in a special course for young war victims in Domžale, and then in Kamnik and Gornja Radgona.

In 1947, he enrolled in Poljane Grammar School in Ljubljana. Jaga baba, antique and other motifs (Otroka reke. Paris: Les Éditions de l'Amandier, 2003. Traduit par Jana Pavlič).