Jovan Jovanovic Zmaj, poet and physician, on the occasion of Zmaj centenary

Abstract

Doctor Jovan Jovanovic Zmaj (1833-1904), a poet and physician, was one of the first members of the Serbian Medical Society, the founder of the „Srpska knjizevna zadruga", and the member of Serbian Royal Academy of Sciences. He lived and worked in Novi Sad, Belgrade, Zagreb, Vienna, Pancevo and other towns of former Austro-Hungarian Monarchy. Besides medical practice, he wrote poetry for children. He started the magazine for children „Neven", the first one in our country. Accordingly, he became the founder of children's literature in Serbia. In many of his poems for children, Dr. Jovan Jovanovic Zmaj propagated the healthy style of life and hygienic habits. His messages are actual even today for his poetry is still alive and widely read and appreciated. His personal tragedy, the loss of five children and wife as well, was immortalized in his books of poetry „Dulici" and „Dulici uveoci", which are considered the most tragic and gentle poems written in Serbian language. Thus, in his personality, Doctor Jovan Jovanovic Zmaj united two most noble vocations: medicine and literature.

Keywords

• Jovan Jovanovic Zmaj
• poet
• physician