Ivana Brlic-Mazuranic

Born in 1874, Ivana Brlić-Mažuranić became one of Croatia’s best-known writers for children. She is especially remembered for Croatian Tales of Long Ago and The Brave Adventures of Lapitch, books that helped bring Croatian storytelling to readers far beyond her homeland.

She came from the notable Mažuranić family, and her work is often praised for blending literary skill with folklore, fantasy, and moral insight. Her stories draw on Slavic mythic themes but remain approachable, lively, and deeply human.

Brlić-Mažuranić died in 1938, yet her reputation has lasted for decades. She is still widely regarded as a foundational figure in Croatian children’s literature, and her books continue to be translated, reprinted, and rediscovered by new generations.