History

The tale Veli Jože (Big Joseph) features a helpful and kind hearted giant named Jože, living in the area around the town of Motovun (Inner Istria). It is a tale written by the Croation poet and writer Vladimir Nazor.

Vladimir Nazor is one of the most important Croation writers. He wrote almost a complete libray of books in which many forms of literature are represented: poems, novels, tales, esays, articles, itineries, diaries and speeches.

Vladimir Nazor was born in 1876 in Partir on the iseland of Brac. He spent there his childhood. In Split he finished Gymnasium. In his works of literature the most important part is formed by his poetry. He published about 20 bundles of poems. Vladimir Nayor died in Zagreb in the year 1949.

You may want to read this tale in Croatian.

The tale of Veli Jože

(abridged)

Place and time of the tale: The story takes place in Istria, mostly in Motovun and its surroundings. All happenes in the past, at the time the Venetian Replublic ruled over Istria.

Main characters: Veli Jože, Ilija, Libert, Jurić, ovčar Ivan, Civetta

In the valley near the town of Motovun lived a serf by the name of Jože, who was as big as a giant. He served and obeyed his landlords and helped workers in the fields. Jože carried out his duties until one day the gouvenor came and took him by galley to Venice. At sea a storm sank the galley, but Jože saved himself.

On the galley a rower by the name of Ilija was kept prisoner. He was a giant too, with many arms but without legs. He told Jože, before he died, that he should not allow anybody to be his master and that he should live like a free man.

Jože decided to listen to his advise and after a few days with other giant serfs, they fled together into the hills where they live very happily. They started working and digging and so it happened that they dug up a lot of goldpieces. When this news spread, it did not take long before their former landlords came to help them.

The landlords carried out all kind of chores for their former serfs and went home rich. Shortly after that it was time to divide the treasure, but the giants got into a fight caused by their greed.

For all Jože had done, he did get what he deserved and was angry. In revenge he set fire to a shed with grain. Because of this the giants went after him and Jože found refuge with Civetta. Civetta, at that time, became leader of the serfs and he divided all. He gave Jože the best piece of land.

When Jože returned to his Motovun, he remembered, just before he entered the town, the words of Ilija and decided not to be a serf anymore but a free man. He left Civetta and Motovun, never to be seen again.

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