Luiza Pesjak facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Luiza Pesjak
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| Born | 12 June 1828 Ljubljana |
| Died | 31 March 1898 (aged 69) Ljubljana |
| Nationality | Austria-Hungary |
Luiza Pesjak (born 12 June 1828 – died 31 March 1898) was an important Slovene writer, poet, and translator. She made history as the first woman to write a novel in the Slovene language.
Her Early Life and Education
Luiza Pesjak was born in Ljubljana, Slovenia, on June 12, 1828. Her father, Blasius Crobath, was a lawyer.
She received a good education from private teachers. One of her teachers was the famous Slovene poet France Prešeren. Luiza loved to read, go to the theater, and attend the opera. She also enjoyed traveling and meeting new people.
A Pioneer Writer
Luiza Pesjak was one of the first novelists in Slovenia. Her most famous story is Beatin dnevnik (Beata's Diary), which was published in 1887. She also wrote many poems and plays. She even wrote the words for an opera called Gorenjski slavček.
Luiza put strong messages about loving her country into her writing. Her works were published in both Slovenia and Germany. Interestingly, her first writings were in German because she did not speak Slovene at that time.
Her Personal Life
On October 3, 1848, Luiza married a businessman named Simon Pesjak. They had five daughters: Helena, Louise, Mary, Ida, and Emma.
At home, the family mostly spoke German and French. But after 1860, when new freedoms were given in the Austrian Empire, Luiza decided to learn Slovene. She hired a local teacher for her daughters, and she learned the language alongside them.
After learning Slovene, Luiza began to write in her native language. She also worked hard to encourage others to learn Slovene. She translated many poems and stories into Slovene from German, English, Italian, Czech, and French.
It took ten years for her novel, Beatin dnevnik, to be published. But Luiza was determined, and it finally came out in 1887.
Later in her life, Luiza faced financial difficulties. She passed away in March 1898 after having a stroke.
Her Legacy
Luiza Pesjak is remembered in Slovenia. A street in Ljubljana is named after her: Luize Pesjakove ulica (Luiza Pesjak Street). She was also featured on a Yugoslav postage stamp.
Her portrait is displayed in the National Gallery of Slovenia. It is one of the most popular paintings there, showing how much she is admired.
