Nova Istra

355 NOVA ISTRA Literary and cultural journal Pula, Croatia, No. 1-2/2013 Summary The first section is especially abundant in new production – prose, poetry and drama writings – both by well-established contemporary Croatian writers and by those who are just coming onto the literary scene seriously. It is, thus, possible to notice their diversity in aesthetic and generation terms. The first essays unit includes contributions on the opus by Krsto Špoljar (1930- -1977), who passed away too early. Once a very prolific and well-known Croatian author, today he is almost forgotten. Different genres in which he used to prove his talent are presented by distinguished literary experts and Croatian Studies students, as well. The new translations section contains the first Croatian translations of some con- temporary or recent Polish, Hungarian and Slovene essayists, poets and prosaists. A special unit is on short stories by the Croatian writers, who are living and writing in Vojvodina, or whose origin refers to this province in the current Repub- lic of Serbia. There is also an essay on the social and cultural circumstances in which the Italian literature, in particular poetry, was created in the first half of 20 th century. A contribu- tion on the first Croatian translations of Karl May’s works from 1880 is also present- ed, as well as a contribution on erotica seen as a feature of the Biblical Song of Songs. The section dealing with the native region issues covers contributions on the problem of Croatian-Slovene demarcation along the frontiers of the west of Cro­ atia, in the north of Istria, taking into account historical facts and the present situation. Another so much interesting text is on the Austrian period monuments from Pula, once the largest naval port of the Monarchy, from where, upon the oc- cupation and arrival of the Italian fascists after the First WorldWar, many cultur- al artefacts were taken away, mostly to Italy. Among others, they include the sights of interest, such as the monuments to the Admiral Wilhelm von Tegetthoff, the Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian and the Empress Elisabeth (Sissi), that should be given back into the city today – either as original works or replicas. The section of literary reviews comprises contributions on the recent poetry, prose, historical, socio-political and other publications in Croatia. Translation: Renata Šamo, Pula