‎"SHAKESPEARE, WILLIAM.‎
‎Hamlet. Kraljević Danski. - [EARLY CROATIAN TRANSLATION OF HAMLET]‎

‎Zagreb, Izdala ""Matica Hrvatska"", 1926. 8vo. Uncut, unopened in the original printed wrappers. Light wear to extremities, otherwise a very fine and clean copy. 208 pp.‎

Reference : 60135

‎Rare early Croatian translation of Hamlet. Shakespeare's plays in the second half of the 18th century were performed in Croatia when some German theatre companies came to Zagreb and performed several German adaptations including Hamlet. Croatia was first introduced to Shakespeare via German and had, consequently, very little impact on Croatian literature. However, it meant many translations of Shakespeare’s works were published comparative late in Croatia. The translator and the author of a long introduction on Shakespeare was Vinko Kriškovic (1861 - 1952). Born in an affluent Dalmatian family Kriškovic spent many years abroad, studying languages and various cultures. He was known as an intellectual and a translator of Shakespeare’s work. He was a member of the Royal Shakespearean Society and translated 24 of Shakespeare’s works. During the Second world war Kriškovic served as an advisor to the leader of the Nazi sympathising Croatian leader Ante Pavelic. In 1944 he moved to Switzerland on the diplomatic passport, where he remained until the rest of his life.‎