Vera Albreht (1961) by unknownThe Miran Jarc Public Library Novo mesto
Vera Albreht (1895–1971),
A Slovenian poet and writer, is known primarily for her works for children. She published mainly in youth magazines and newspapers, and also published several collections of youth poetry and prose.
First edition of Lupinica (1957) by Vera AlbrehtThe Miran Jarc Public Library Novo mesto
Albreht's most successful youth work
Among her youth works, the fairy tale Lupinica was the most successful, which was first published in 1957 with illustrations by Slovenian illustrator and comic artist Miki Muster.
Miki Muster's illustrations brought Vera Albreht's fairy tales to life. His playful style, featuring cartoonish animals, captured the imagination of young readers.
Poetry collection Wormwood in the Heart (2015) by Vera AlbrehtThe Miran Jarc Public Library Novo mesto
She also wrote poetry for adults, but most of these poems were never published. It was not until 2015 that her poems for adults were presented for the first time in a book edition entitled Wormwood in the Heart.
Vera's parents (1889) by Mich. I. Lustig, photographerThe Miran Jarc Public Library Novo mesto
Early Life
Vera Albreht came from the family of court counselor Alojz Kessler and Marija, née Trenz.
Vera Albreht as a child (early 20th century) by Hinko Dolenc, photographerThe Miran Jarc Public Library Novo mesto
She was born as the third of four daughters in 1895 in Krško, where her father was working at the time.
The postcard of Novo mesto (20th Century) by J. Krajec nasl.The Miran Jarc Public Library Novo mesto
She spent the first years of her life in Novo mesto, which she referred to in literature as "the town of my youth", and attended primary school there.
As a child, Vera lived with her family in a tall house above the Krka River. The building was then owned by her uncle Ferdinand Trenz, who was a doctor in Novo mesto for some time and had a practice in the house.
Once Upon a Time Under Gorjanci (1960) by Vera AlbrehtThe Miran Jarc Public Library Novo mesto
Vera Albreht has written her memories of her carefree childhood years in Novo mesto and the landscape between Krka and the Gorjanci Hills...
...where she spent her holidays at her mother's home in Draškovec near Šentjernej, in a tiny book of short stories entitled Once Upon a Time Under the Gorjanci Hills (Nekoč pod Gorjanci).
Draškovec manor (between the two world wars) by unknownThe Miran Jarc Public Library Novo mesto
Family History
Vera's mother was from the Trenz family, which owned the Draškovec manor in Mihovica near Šentjernej in Dolenjska Region.
Draškovec with a chapel (between the two world wars) by unknownThe Miran Jarc Public Library Novo mesto
The modest country manor, which was demolished in the 1960s, stood in the middle of flat meadows and fields near the Krka River, on the edge of forest that in those days still hid the mounded graves of the ancient Illyrians.
Draškovec manor in Mihovica (between the two world wars) by unknownThe Miran Jarc Public Library Novo mesto
The Trenz family was not a noble family, but their wealth and influence made them very respectable in the local area.
Among other things, it had strong ties to the healthcare, with at least one doctor in almost every generation.
Vera's grandparents (second half of the 19th century) by Ferdinand WeitzingerThe Miran Jarc Public Library Novo mesto
The estate was originally owned by Vera's grandfather Ferdinand Adolf Trenz, who studied medicine in Vienna.
He did not complete his studies, but at home he practised homeopathy.
Vera's uncle (late 19th century) by AngererThe Miran Jarc Public Library Novo mesto
His son and Vera's uncle, Ferdinand Felix Trenz, worked as a military doctor.
After his retirement, he set up a practice and a convenient pharmacy in Draškovec. The Kessler girls spent their holidays with him.
Memories of Youth
In fifteen stories, the writer speaks through the eyes of a deeply experiencing child about the happy and sad events of her childhood, about life on lonely farms, about village…
…and town peculiarities…
…about the poor, the unfortunate and the arrogant rich.
Capturing an Era
She presented the world of her childhood with all its ailments, illnesses, customs, traditions and habits, thus capturing the spirit of the time from the beginning of the twentieth century.
The first ilustration to the story The Owls (1955) by Tone ŽnidaršičThe Miran Jarc Public Library Novo mesto
First Published Story
Her story The Owls (Sove) was published in the youth literary magazine Pionir under the title Nace with illustrations by Tone Žnideršič in 1955.
Nace was one of the servants at Draškovec.
The Municipality of Novo Mesto awarded the writer the Trdina Award in 1961 for her literary work and especially for her work Nekoč pod Gorjanci, which the municipality awards as the highest recognition in the field of culture.
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