Barrier-breaking Croatian writer Marija Jurić Zagorka – 151 years on

The first female journalist in Croatia and among the most read Croatian writers of all time was born on this day 151 years ago. 

Writer, journalist, and women’s rights activist Marija Juric Zagorka, who is best known for her novels and plays that explored the lives and struggles of women in Croatia during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, was born on 2 March 1873 in the village of Negovec near Vrbovec, east of Zagreb.

She was a pioneer in Croatian literature, breaking new ground in both style and subject matter, and her work continues to be celebrated today.

Zagorka grew up in a devout Catholic household. She also had a love for literature from a young age, and she began writing stories and poems as a teenager. After completing her education, she moved to Zagreb, the capital of Croatia, to pursue a career in journalism.

Marija Jurić Zagorka (Photo: Public domain/CC)

Whilst at school, Zagorka edited her first newspaper – Samostanske novine as well as the student newspaper Zagorsko proljeće and in 1896, she wrote unsigned articles for the Hrvatski branik and Hrvatska Posavina newspapers.

She became the first female journalist in Croatia when she joined the staff of the daily newspaper Obzor. She quickly made a name for herself as a talented writer, and she used her platform to advocate for women’s rights and social justice. 

She also wrote occasionally travelogues from Zagorje, biographies, autobiographies, feuilletons, humoresques, short stories and novels.

In 1912, Zagorka published her first novel, Grička vještica (The Witch of Grič), which tells the story of a young woman who is wrongly accused of witchcraft in 18th-century Zagreb. The novel was an instant success, and it remains one of the most popular and beloved works of Croatian literature to this day. 

Zagorka went on to write dozens of other novels and plays over the course of her career, many of which were inspired by real-life historical events and figures.

Zagorka’s work was notable not only for its themes, but also for its innovative use of language and narrative techniques. She experimented with different literary styles and genres, and she was known for her vivid descriptions, complex characters, and fast-paced plots. 

Her novels often featured strong, independent female protagonists who challenged traditional gender roles and fought for their rights and freedom.

Despite her immense popularity and critical acclaim, Zagorka faced significant obstacles as a woman writer in a male-dominated field. She was often criticized and belittled by her male colleagues, and she had to fight for recognition and respect throughout her career. However, she persevered, and her legacy continues to inspire generations of Croatian women today.

A statue of Marija Jurić Zagorka in Tkalčić Street in Zagreb (Photo: Silverije/CC BY-SA 4.0)

Zagorka died in 1957 at the age of 84 and is buried at Mirogoj cemetery in Zagreb, but her impact on Croatian literature and culture endures. 

She remains one of the most beloved and influential writers in the country’s history, and her novels and plays continue to be read and studied by scholars and readers alike. Her pioneering spirit, her commitment to social justice, and her indomitable creativity continue to inspire new generations of writers and activists, both in Croatia and around the world.

Today, the Croatian Journalists’ Association awards the annual Marija Jurić Zagorka Award for excellence in written, radio, television, online and investigative journalism.