Antun Kalac

Antun Kalac (Žbrlini, near Pazin, 27 December 1849 - Pazin, 13 May 1919), was a Croatian poet, writer, playwright, literary translator, and revivalist of Croatian nationalism among the Istrian people. Kalac also became a Catholic priest.[1][2]

Antun Kalac, late 19th century

Biography

Kalac was born in the village of Žbrlini in the region of Pazin, where he attended elementary school and lower grammar school with the Franciscans of the region. His high school education was in Trieste, and he later studied at a seminary in Gorizia and Trieste.[3]

In Trieste, he came in contact with a group of Croatian intellectuals associated with the magazine Naša Sloga.

He was ordained in Pazin in 1875 and was chaplain there until 1882. He supported the Croatian people in his work and soon came into conflict with the supporters of Italian politics. Since the diocese of Trieste (which at that time included Pazin and other parts of central Istria) was headed by the Istrian revivalist Bishop Juraj Dobrila, Kalac was able to continue his work and commitment in the region. In 1882, he was transferred to Buzet, as pastor and dean. In 1906, he returned to Pazin, taking an appointment as prefect and dean. His Croatian revivalist work was well-received, and he left a mark on both Buzet and his native Pazin, where he was a priest. He promoted Croatian education and defended the national rights of Croats in Istria. Because of his work, he was constantly attacked by the ruling elite.[3][1][2]

Kalac was well known for his position as the defender and protector of the Croatian national spirit during the turbulent times of Italianization of Istria. These prominent figures are characterized by the fact that they were members of Matica hrvatska: [[Juraj Dobrila|Juraj Dobrila, Matko Brajša, Viktor Car Emin, Ivan Cukon, Ivo Glavina, Šime Kurelić, Luka Kirac, Eugen Kumičić, Šime Kurelić, Matko Laginja, Matko Mandić, Fran Matejčić, Ivan Rendić, Josip Ribarić, Vjekoslav Spinčić, Vinko Šepić, Dinko Trinajstić, Tone Peruško, Zvane Črnja.[4] Because he was a high-ranking priest within the Church, he did not hold the most prominent positions in civic associations, but his contribution to these circles was still significant.[3][2]

Kalac also contributed to the development of Croatian poetic expression in Istria in the 19th and 20th centuries. He published about a hundred songs in Naša sloga, often under the pseudonym Nadan Zorin. He also published works in prose and wrote plays. His songs reflected his awareness of, and commitment to, Croatia.[2][3] One song in particular, Predobri Bože, stands out and was once considered the anthem of Istrian Croats. It was set to music by the famous Croatian composer from Istria Matko Brajša Rašan. He translated literary works from various languages into Croatian, including Schiller's Song of the Bell and Virgil's Eclogues.

He was the editor of a memorial book published on the 100th anniversary (1912) of the birth of the Croatian revivalist Bishop Juraj Dobrila.

Antun Kalac died on May 13, 1919 in Pazin.[3]

Sources
  • Pregled bibliografske jedinice broj: 60965 Mirjana Strčić: Antun Kalac - hrvatski narodni preporoditelj i pjesnik
  • Grad Pula Nova Istra, časopis za književnost, kulturološke i društvene teme. Prilozi o zavičaju. Crkva sv. Nikole u Pazinu (I) - Pazinska prepozitura i prepoziti. Piše Josip Šiklić, Pazin.
  • Vjekoslav Spinčić, Crtice iz hrvatske književne kulture Istre, Zagreb 1926.
  • Vjekoslav Kalac, Antun Kalac – istarski pjesnik rodoljub, Istarska Danica 1973.
  • Božo Milanović, Hrvatski narodni preporod u Istri, II, Pazin 1973.
  • Mirijana Strčić, Istarska beseda i pobuna, II, Pula 1985.
  • Josip Bratulić, Antun Kalac, pjesnik Istre, u: A. Kalac – Pjesme, Pazin 1992.
  • M. Strčić, Pjesničko djelo Antuna Kalca, u: Temelji književne epohe, Svećenici u hrvatskom narodnom preporodu Istre i kvarnerskih otoka, Pazin 1994.
  • Boris Biletić, Antun Kalac i njegov hrvatski prepjev Rapicijeve poeme »Histria«, Umjetnost riječi, 2002., 1–2

References
  1. Antun Kalac (1992). Pjesme: rodoljubne, prigodne, basne i idile. Pula: Istarsko književno društvo "Juraj Dobrila" via Indiana University. pp. 30–341.
  2. Society of St. Hyeronimus, Zagreb (1946). The Yugoslav Clergy in Istria Under Italian Rule. Society of St. Hyeronimus, Zagreb via University of California. pp. 5–10.
  3. "Antun Kalac". istrapedia. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  4. Matica hrvatska Andrija Tunjić: Zrcalo hrvatstva u Istri, number 421, April 22, 2010.
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