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Ivan Kozarac

Croatian writer Ivan Kozarac entered the literary scene in 1902. During his short 8 years of active work (from 1902 to 1910) he produced sixty poems, 40 short stories and novellas, "Đuka Begović" novel and his autobiography. 
Ivan Kozarac was not a typical writer nor was he a part of dominant modernist Croatian poetic movement. He affirmed and legitimized himself as a poet of vitalism and decadency, a poet of passion, joy, euphoria but also a poet of exhaustion, dying and agony.
"Đuka Begović" novel was the height of his creative work.

 Đuka Begović, "bećar" (a person, typically Slavonian, who likes alcohol, women and good times) is a unique character in Croatian literature. He was based on Đuka Grgić from rich Grgić family who lost all of his money and his house that was located on Grgić street in Vinkovci (contemporary Ivan Gundulić street, number 40).

Tragic vitalism of the decadent Đuka makes him special, unique, a legendary character. He is the synthesis of all Slavonian bećars and generationally conditions vices, suppressed by military border forces and laws, a slap in the face of everything traditional and patriarchal and a legend. He is the hyperboles of living on one’s own terms, living grandiose and free.

Đuka was a rich and powerful man who threw away his money on alcohol and fornication, had little regard for work or any kind of social responsibility. When we first meet him, he is strong, decisive and has great will power. However, later on he becomes powerless, desperate, suspicious, sad, angry and scared. He is in constant discrepancy between the world he has to live in and the world he wants to live in. He committed patricide, he is adulterer, spendthrift and the carrier of bad genes. He knows what he does not want, but he does not know what he wants, doing everything others would not dare to do. After life of debauchery he lost everything and became a homeless enigma.

More information here.