Friar Bernard Bakonja: His Schooling and Tonsure

In a village in the Dalmatian hinterland, a once-in-a-generation event is about to take place. The time has come for the Jerkovi¿ clan, whose holy lineage goes back twenty-four generations, to assemble and select a new student among its youth and send him off to a monastery to begin his schooling under the auspices of the clan chief's brother, Friar Bernard. But things quickly take a turn for the worse when a fight nearly breaks out over the presumptive choice, the clan chief's son Bakonja... In his novel Friar Bernard Bakonja, Matavulj offers a revealing and humorous portrayal of life and customs in XIX century Dalmatia, centred on a picturesque monastery and its monks, with all their virtues and weaknesses. The monastery becomes the stage for almost the entire plot, and the nexus in which characters' hopes, beliefs, fears, and superstitions intersect. With his memorable cast of characters, and impeccable knowledge of local folklore, language, and religion, Matavulj brings to the forefront the essence of life of one whole region and leaves behind an imprint that has withstood the test of time. Translated into English in time for 125th anniversary of its first publication in 1892, the novel stands as a vivid testament to the Dalmatian ethos through centuries past.