Hearty Blejka/Brave Gorenjka

Ludwig Germonik: Hearty Blejka/Brave Gorenjka. Translation: Anton Umek – Okiški and Valentin Prešeren.

 

 

The writer and publicist Ludwig Germonik (1823-1909) published the play in Trieste in 1868. The Women of Veldes (Women from Bled respectively Blake). The popular historical play (which has seen three book editions) was first translated into Slovenian by the professor of classical philology and poet Anton Umek – Okiški (1838 – 1871). The second and third acts were translated by Valentin Prešeren.

The three-act singing play takes place in Bled during the French occupation. The locals receive news that the French intend to confiscate valuables from the pilgrimage church on the island. Their plan is resisted mainly by women, and at the initiative of the owner of the spa, the people of Bled withdraw most of their boats to the island, thus preventing the transport of the valuable cargo. The brave women of Bled's action is successful, as the end of Napoleon's empire is fast approaching. The French will have to retreat, but the locals prevent them from "robbing the church treasury".

Two manuscripts of the translation have been preserved in the archives of the Ljubljana Dramatic Society under the reference DD 152, but with different titles. The first, Serčne Blejka, has an unusually early date on the title page, 1862, and on the back, the censor's permission for the performance (January 25, 1872):

The work was obviously very popular with audiences, as it was performed four times over a period of more than twenty years, always with the title of the second manuscript (as Brave Gorenjka):

The play was also performed in the original version several times at the Ljubljana Theatre.

 

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