France Preseren (1800-1849), perhaps the greatest Slovenian…

France Preseren (1800-1849), perhaps the greatest Slovenian poet, works to transform the Slovenian peasant idiom into a language as refined as German.

Unhappy love was the inspiration for his Sonetni venec (1834; “Garland of Sonnets”), in which, as in his later lyrics, Preseren expresses the national consciousness that he seeks to stimulate in his compatriots.

His epic poem Krst pri Savici (1836; “The Baptism by the Savica”) treats the conflict between paganism and the early Slovene converts to Christianity and illustrates Preseren's patriotism, pessimism, and resignation.

He also writes satirical verses (1845) on contemporary literary conditions in Slovenia.