Radovan Ivšić

Radovan Ivšić (June 22, 1921 – December 25, 2009) was a Croatian writer, best known for his drama Kralj Gordogan and book of poems Crno. Ivšić spent his life uncompromisingly in the spirit of liberty. Such values brought him close to the surrealist movement. He was a friend of André Breton and Toyen and was one of the signers of the last Manifeste du surréalisme, 1955. His best-known statements are “Never give up your dreams” and paraphrase “We are our dreams”.

Biography He was a son of Stjepan Ivšić, a Croatian linguist, Slavist, accentologist, and Rector of University of Zagreb (1940–43). After Classical High School and graduation from the University of Zagreb, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, in 1954 he relocated to Paris, where he remained for the rest of his life.

Controversy The fascist prime minister of Croatia during World War II, Ante Pavelić, personally ordered confiscation of Ivšić's first book, Narcis. His theatrical play Kralj Gordogan was banned in Croatia by both the fascist and communist dictatorships until 1979. Ivšić criticized cheap politics, communism, and false surrealism. He was a critic of Miroslav Krleža, often regarded as the greatest Croatian writer of the 20th century. Ivšić rejected all awards and medals.

Selected works Daha (drama), 1941 Narcis (poem), 1942 Kralj Gordogan (drama), 1943 Kapetan Oliver (drama), 1944 Vodnik pobjednik (drama), 1944 Snjeguljica (drama), 1948 Tanke (collection of poems), 1954 Akvarij (drama), 1954 Mavena (collection of poems), 1960 Mavena (collection of poems), 1972 Autour ou dedans (collection of poems), 1974 Crno (collection of poems), 1974 Bunar u kuli (collection of poems), 1974 Aixaia ili Moći reći (drama), 1983 Sunčani grad (drama)