France Bevk facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
France Bevk
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France Bevk in 1953
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| Born | 17 September 1890 Zakojca near Cerkno, Austrian Littoral |
| Died | 17 September 1970 (aged 80) Ljubljana, SR Slovenia |
| Occupation | Writer |
| Nationality | Slovene |
| Literary movement | Expressionism, social realism |
| Notable works | The Vicar Martin Čedermac |
| Notable awards | Prešeren Award |
France Bevk (born September 17, 1890 – died September 17, 1970) was an important Slovene writer, poet, and translator. He also used the pen name Pavle Sedmak. He is best known for his stories about the lives of ordinary people and his many books for children.
A Writer's Life
France Bevk was born in a small mountain village called Zakojca. This village was in what was then the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Today, it is part of Slovenia. He was the oldest of eight children in his family. His father was a farmer and a shoemaker.
France went to school in several towns. He studied in Bukovo, Kranj, Koper, and Gorizia. After his studies, he became a teacher. His first teaching job was in the village of Orehek.
During World War I, France Bevk became a soldier. He fought on the Eastern Front. He also spent some time at a military school in Hungary.
After the war, he worked for different newspapers in Ljubljana. In 1920, he moved to Gorizia. Here, he became very active in cultural and political groups. This area was then under Italian rule. Because of his activities, the Italian Fascist authorities often arrested him. They even sent him away to live in a special camp.
In 1935, he had to leave the area and moved to Ljubljana. This city was then in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. In Ljubljana, he met many famous artists and writers. He became friends with people like the painter Zoran Mušič and the writer Vladimir Bartol.
When the Axis powers invaded Yugoslavia in 1941, France Bevk was put in prison. This was because he openly spoke out against the Fascist government. In 1943, he managed to escape from prison. He then joined the Slovene Partisans, who were fighting against the occupation.
After World War II ended, he lived in Trieste for a while. Later, he moved back to Ljubljana. In 1953, he became a member of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts. This is a very important honor in Slovenia. He won the Prešeren Award twice. This is the highest award for artists in Slovenia. He received it in 1949 and again in 1954. France Bevk passed away in Ljubljana on his 80th birthday.
His Literary Works
France Bevk started writing when he was just sixteen years old. A famous editor named Zofka Kveder encouraged him. At first, his poems were influenced by writers like Oton Župančič.
After his experiences in World War I, his writing style changed. He was influenced by a style called Christian expressionism. This was a popular art movement in Slovenia at the time. Later, he moved towards social realism. This style focused on showing real life and social issues.
He became well-known in the 1930s for his novels. These books described how the Slovene people in the Julian March fought to keep their culture. They were trying to protect their identity from the Italian government's attempts to make them more Italian.
His most famous book is Kaplan Martin Čedermac. The title means "The Vicar Martin Čedermac". This novel tells the story of a Catholic priest. It shows his struggles in the westernmost Slovene region. The book was published in 1938 using a pen name. It quickly became a very popular book.
Later in his life, France Bevk wrote mostly for children. He was a very busy writer! When he turned 70, people counted all his books. They found that he had written over 100 books!
His Lasting Impact
France Bevk is still remembered for his famous novel, The Vicar Martin Čedermac. But he is mostly known as a beloved author of children's books. The main library in Nova Gorica is named after him. The central square in that town also carries his name.
Images for kids
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Bevk's childhood home
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Plaque on the Bevk house
See also
In Spanish: France Bevk para niños
