Croatian Tales of Long Ago: A Forgotten Classic Brought to Life by Vladimir Kirin

Nestled in the annals of children’s literature is a true hidden gem: Croatian Tales of Long Ago (Priče iz davnine), written by the celebrated Croatian author Ivana Brlić-Mažuranić and brought to stunning visual life by illustrator Vladimir Kirin. Often hailed as “Croatia’s Hans Christian Andersen,” Brlić-Mažuranić crafted a collection of original fairy tales deeply rooted in the mythology of pre-Christian Slavic culture .

Originally published in 1916, this collection is considered the author’s undisputed masterpiece. However, it is the 1922 English edition, published by Frederick A. Stokes Co., that holds a special allure for book collectors and folklore enthusiasts alike. This is the same publishing house that would later introduce the world to J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings . While Tolkien brought Nordic and Anglo-Saxon myth to the masses, Brlić-Mažuranić opened a window into the rich, often overlooked world of Slavic spirits, forest goblins, and mythical heroes .

While the text is magical, the physical book owes much of its beauty to Vladimir Kirin, the Croatian illustrator who defined its visual identity. Unlike the soft, floral aesthetic of Art Nouveau contemporaries like Mucha, Kirin’s style in this volume is sharp, folkloric, and strikingly modernist. His work bridges the gap between traditional Slavic ornamental art and the expressive illustration styles of the early 20th century .

For the English-speaking audience of the 1920s, Kirin’s illustrations were an exotic revelation. He didn’t just depict the action; he visualized the “Croatianness” of the stories. His pen-and-ink drawings and full-page color plates bring to life the specific textures of the ancient Balkans—the intricate embroidery on a bride’s gown, the looming darkness of the Stribor’s Forest, and the harsh, beautiful reality of the Adriatic coastline .

The stories themselves are not the sanitized fairy tales of Disney. They are complex, dark, and philosophical. In Fisherman Plunk and His Wife, readers encounter a Slavic twist on the dangers of greed, while How Quest Sought the Truth follows a hero on a deeply psychological journey through a landscape populated by mythical beasts . Critics have compared her narrative complexity to that of Tolkien because she builds entirely new plots using the scaffolding of real mythology, creating a world that feels both ancient and completely original .

For modern readers, seeking out a copy of Croatian Tales of Long Ago is worth the effort—not just for the stories, but for Vladimir Kirin’s forgotten artistry. It stands as a testament to a moment in history when Croatian culture was reaching out to the world, and a reminder that some of the best fairy tales come from the places you least expect.

Recommended for collectors:

• The Russian Story Book (1916), illustrated by Frank C. Papé – A richly illustrated collection of Russian folktales with epic, heroic themes.
• The Book of Princes and Princesses (1908), illustrated by H. J. Ford – Classic romantic tales with detailed art and royal folklore.
• Zlatni Danci (Golden Days) (1928) by Ivana Brlić-Mažuranić – A lesser-known but charming collection of stories from the same author, rooted in everyday magic.

Art Gallery: Vladimir Kirin – Croatian Tales of Long Ago, 1922