Another important figure in the early days of modern Macedonian literature is the highly regarded translator, Blaže Koneski. Originally studying at the University of Belgrade as a medical student, Koneski switched his attention to Serbian language and literature. He is often considered a key figure for his role in establishing what is known as the common Macedonian literary language, which was created as a way to unite the various different Macedonian dialects.
Over time, many writers sought to expand upon these feelings of identity by moving in new directions with the introduction of fantasy and myth. Perhaps the most respected of these writers, Zivko Cingo, who during his lifetime worked as a journalist, was the Director of the Macedonian National Theatre, and also the founder and President for the Writers association of Macedonia. Cingo released a number of short stories and novels in his native Macedonian, with perhaps his most well known being the 1962 collection Paskvelija and the follow up Nova Paskvelija, both collections based in a fantasy world where conflicts between old traditions and a new way of life arises. His novel Golemata Voda (The Big Water) was turned into a film, The Great Water in 2004, which tells the story of a young orphan living in the turmoil of post war Macedonia.
The notable writer Slavko Janevski, who also worked as a scriptwriter and painter, wrote a great deal of poetry and prose collections not only for adults, but also for children. Like Janevski, many of Macedonia’s writers also wrote for children, the writer Srbo Ivanovski wrote a number of poems for children, while Gligor Popovski, is perhaps the most well known of Macedonian writers for children, and he often discussed adult themes in his works, such as the country’s many political struggles.

Macedonian Literature: In Search of a National Identity

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