Karanfil sa pjesnikova groba / Pruski kralj / U akvariju

Carnation from the Poet's Grave / The King of Prussia / In the Aquarium is the 19th book of Collected Works of August Šenoa published by Naklada knjižara Preporod. This volume combines three thematically and stylistically diverse stories that demonstrate the richness of Šenoa's storytelling talent.

Carnation from the Poet's Grave is the best-known and most beloved story in this volume. It is a romantic and autobiographically colored story in which Šenoa describes his stay in Kranj, his meeting with a young Slovenian Neža, and the awakening of national consciousness and love for Slavism. The story is filled with poetry, nostalgic scenes of Prešern's Grave, love ecstasy, and a touching ending – a true pearl of Croatian romantic prose.

King of Prussia is a witty satirical humoresque in which Šenoa, with a lot of irony, depicts petty-bourgeois ambitions, vanity, and funny situations in a provincial or Zagreb setting.

In the Aquarium is a sharp social satire on the Zagreb bourgeoisie. Here, Šenoa dissects the closed, narrow-minded world of “aquariums” in which people follow established rules, gossip, are hypocritical, and maintain a semblance of decency. The story is full of sharp irony and realistic observations about the social flaws of the 19th century.

This edition, as well as the entire Renaissance edition (1942–1943), is adorned with recognizable and artistically powerful illustrations by Andrija Maurović. His drawings on the cover and within the text perfectly follow the atmosphere of each story – from romantic scenes of Carniola to satirical scenes of Zagreb.

The book is ideal for lovers of classical Croatian literature who enjoy a mix of romance, humor, and social criticism. All three stories are easy to read in one sitting, and Maurović’s illustrations give the edition a special antique charm and high collector’s value.