The Immortal Krleža

“He has achieved immortality,” someone once said of Croatian writer Miroslav Krleža. His name has been attached to many cultural events, awards, and national endowments. His works are still published throughout the world. Those who knew him personally recall that his greatest desire was to have his work reproduced abundantly and continue living vigorously even after his physical death. Naturally, there are no writers who would not want such a thing. But Krleža had the rare good fortune to have his works come into the hands of someone who knew how to properly take care of this enormous treasure and to bring about the publishing feats that the writer himself desired, but was never able to accomplish.