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Mate Dolenc
Mate Dolenc
Mate Dolenc
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Mate Dolenc (born 5 October 1945) is a Slovene writer and translator. He writes novels, collections of short stories, children's books, travelogues and articles.[1]

Key Information

Dolenc was born in Ljubljana in 1945. He started studying comparative literature at the University of Ljubljana but never completed his studies. He worked at Mladina for a few years in the early 1970s. Since 1973 he works as a free-lance writer. He has written over thirty books, several screenplays and numerous articles. He is also known for his juvenile fiction. His passion for scuba diving is often reflected in the subject matter he chooses for his writing.[2] The Adriatic and its islands have marked many of his books both for adult and young readers. In 2008 his two most successful novels The Gorjanci Vampire and The Sea at the Time of the Eclipse were made into feature films.[3]

In 1986 he won the Levstik Award for his novel for young readers Morska dežela na železniški postaji (The Land of Sea at the Railway Station).[4] In 1995 he won the Prešeren Foundation Award for his novel Pes z Atlantide (The Dog from Atlantis) and his collection of short stories Rum in šah (Rum and Chess).[5]

Published works

[edit]
  • Menjalnica (The Exchange), short stories, 1970
  • Peto nadstropje trinadstropne hiše (The Fifth Floor of a Three-Storey House), satirical novel, co-authored with Dimitrij Rupel, 1972
  • Aleluja Katmandu (Hallelujah Katmandu), novel, 1973
  • Razkošje v glavi (Luxury in the Mind), satire, co-authored with Slavko Pregl, 1974
  • Nenavadna Slovenija (Unusual Slovenia), satire, co-authored with Slavko Pregl, 1974
  • Potopljeni otok (The Sunken Island), short stories, 1976
  • Vampir z Gorjancev (The Gorjanci Vampire), novel, 1979, 2004
  • Gorenčev vrag (Gorenc's Devil), short stories, 1977
  • Vloga mojih škornjev v angolski revoluciji (The Role of My Boots in the Angolan Revolution), short stories, 1985
  • Morska dežela na železniški postaji (The Land of Sea at the Railway Station), youth literature, 1986
  • Velika ptičja zadeva (A Great Matter for Birds), youth literature, 1987
  • Praznik republike ali abrakadabra (Republic Day or Abracadabra), short stories, 1987
  • Golo morje (The Bare Sea), youth literature, 1988
  • Strupena Brigita (Poisonous Bridget), youth literature, 1989
  • Njen modri dežni plašč (Her Blue Rain Coat), novel, 1990
  • Podmorski svet in mi (The Deapths of the Sea and Us), diving manual, 1991
  • Pes z Atlantide (The Dog from Atlantis), novel, 1993
  • Rum in šah (Rum and Chess), short stories, 1993
  • Ozvezdje Jadran (The Adriatic Constellation), 1998
  • Z masko v podvodni svet (Into the Depth with a Diving Mask), educational picture book, 1999
  • Morje v času mrka (The Sea at the Time of the Eclipse), novel, 2000
  • Leteča ladja (The Flying Boat), youth literature, 2002
  • Morski portreti (Portraits of the Sea), educational, 2003
  • Potapljanje Na Vdih & Podvodni Ribolov (Free Diving and Underwater Fishing), manual, 2004
  • Morsko dno pripoveduje (The Seabed Tells), youth literature, 2004
  • Golo morje (The Bare Sea), youth literature, 2005
  • Kako dolg je čas (how long is time), short stories, 2019

References

[edit]
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Mate Dolenc

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Mate Dolenc is a Slovenian writer, translator, and journalist known for his diverse body of work that includes novels, short stories, children's books, travelogues, and articles, often exploring maritime themes inspired by his lifelong passion for scuba diving and the sea. His writing blends realistic depictions with satirical and fantastic elements, frequently centering on the Adriatic underwater world and island life, while his children's literature stands out for its vivid, authentic language and harmonious portrayal of nature. Born in 1945 in Ljubljana, Dolenc studied comparative literature at the Faculty of Arts in Ljubljana and began his career as a journalist for several publications before transitioning to freelance writing and journalism, including contributions to nautical magazines. Over the course of his career, he has authored some thirty books and several screenplays, with his works reflecting his experiences as a deep-sea diver and fisherman, and some adapted into films. He has received notable recognition in Slovenian literature, including the Levstik Award (1986), Prešeren Fund Award (1995), Večernica Award (2011), and Desetnica Award (2004 and 2015), particularly for his contributions to children's and young adult literature.

Early life and education

Birth and family background

Mate Dolenc was born on 5 October 1945 in Ljubljana, which was then part of Yugoslavia (now the capital of Slovenia). He spent his early life in Ljubljana during the post-war era of socialist Yugoslavia, a period marked by reconstruction and the establishment of the new political system following World War II. No detailed information on his family background or parents is available from reliable biographical sources.

Education and early influences

Dolenc attended gymnasium in Ljubljana. He subsequently enrolled in comparative literature at the Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana, though he did not complete the degree. From the outset of his literary career, Dolenc's central thematic interest was the portrayal of bohemian life, frequently rooted in urban environments. At least by the 1980s, this focus shifted toward the Adriatic Sea, where islands and the marine world emerged as a distinctive and compelling realm of experience and expression in his writing. After leaving university, he began his professional path at the magazine Mladina.

Professional beginnings

Journalism and early writing

Mate Dolenc began his professional career in journalism, working at the Slovenian magazine Mladina for three years. His early writing during this period centered on urban themes and stories depicting the lives of city youth, establishing his initial focus as a writer of the urban world and metropolitan experiences. In 1979, he left his position at Mladina to become a full-time freelance writer. This move allowed him to concentrate more fully on literary creation beyond journalistic constraints.

Transition to freelance writing

After his employment at the magazine Mladina from approximately 1976 or 1977, Mate Dolenc transitioned to freelance writing and translation in 1979. He has since operated as a full-time freelance writer and translator, independent of regular employment. In this capacity, Dolenc contributed regularly to the children's magazine Kekec, where he presented topics from the world of technology and travel in engaging ways through the columns Jekleni konjiček and Moja široka cesta. He also wrote articles on Adriatic themes for Val magazine. His later works reflect a thematic shift toward motifs of the sea and rural coastal life.

Literary career

Major novels and short story collections

Mate Dolenc's major novels and short story collections trace his development from depictions of urban bohemian life and social satire in the early years to immersive narratives centered on the Adriatic Sea, islands, underwater worlds, and existential themes. He debuted with the short prose collection Menjalnica in 1970, marking his entry into adult literature with concise, observational stories. Subsequent works such as the novel Aleluja Katmandu (1973) and short story collections Potopljeni otok (1976) and Gorenčev vrag (1977) continued his exploration of contemporary life and experimental forms. A pivotal work in his oeuvre is the 1979 novel Vampir z Gorjancev, a fantastical tale blending realism and fantasy that critics interpreted as an allegorical critique of authoritarian power structures, with ruling figures portrayed as vampires; the book was reissued in 2004. Later collections like Vloga mojih škornjev v angolski revoluciji (1985) and Praznik republike ali abrakadabra (1987) sustained his engagement with short prose, often infused with irony and political undertones. In 1990, he published the novel Njen modri dežni plašč, followed by the 1993 novel Pes z Atlantide and the short story collection Rum in šah, the latter two earning him the Prešeren Fund Award in 1995 for their literary merit. The novel Morje v času mrka (2000) stands out among his later works for its profound treatment of aging, mortality, and human resilience amid maritime settings. Across these major publications, Dolenc's adult fiction frequently draws on the Adriatic and underwater environments as defining motifs, reflecting his personal interests and establishing a distinctive literary territory within Slovenian prose.

Children's and youth literature

Dolenc has also authored several notable works in children's and youth literature, frequently drawing on maritime adventures and the natural world to captivate young readers in ways that echo the sea-centric motifs of his adult fiction. One of his earliest contributions to this genre is the children's book Morska dežela na železniški postaji, published in 1986 by Mladinska knjiga as part of their Pisanice series and illustrated by Miroslav Šuput. In 2002, he published Leteča ladja, a youth novel that earned the inaugural Desetnica award in 2004, given by the Slovenian Writers' Association for the best original Slovenian work in children's and youth literature. His 1998 book Ozvezdje Jadran appeared on Slovenian school reading lists during the 2004/2005 academic year, reflecting its educational value in introducing young audiences to themes of the sea and marine life. More recently, the youth novel Mali princ z otoka received the Desetnica award in 2015, marking Dolenc's second win of this prize and underscoring his continued influence in engaging adolescent readers with island and oceanic narratives. These titles highlight Dolenc's skill in adapting his distinctive storytelling style—rooted in respect for the sea and human humility before nature—to suit younger audiences.

Themes, style, and influences

Dolenc's early prose focused on urban settings and the bohemian lifestyle of city youth, often infused with satire, irony, and humor to depict the subcultural dynamics of the 1970s. Over time, his thematic center shifted decisively to the Adriatic Sea, where the underwater world, scuba diving, fishing, islands, and maritime life became the defining motifs of his work, expressed through poetic celebrations of the sea's beauty and power. In his later writing, Dolenc expanded to rural Slovenian environments, incorporating the Gorjanci mountains, the Slovenian coast, the Vipava Valley, traditional villages and towns, farmers, and winegrowers as key settings that reflect everyday life and human connections to the land. This evolution from urban youth narratives to maritime and rural landscapes highlights a broader exploration of human experience in natural and peripheral spaces. Dolenc's style consistently blends realistic narration with elements of adventure, fantasy, or the bizarre, while humor, irony, and gentle sarcasm serve as recurring tools to comment on characters and society. His contributions to nautical and children's magazines further underscore his engagement with sea-related subjects across genres.

Translation work

Notable translations from other languages

Mate Dolenc has translated several notable works from English and Croatian into Slovenian, demonstrating his range across genres from science fiction and gonzo journalism to nautical and culinary themes. His translations from English include Robert A. Heinlein's classic science fiction novel Starship Troopers, published in Slovenian as Vesoljski bojevniki in 1998 by DZS. He also rendered Hunter S. Thompson's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas as Strah in groza v Las Vegasu in 1999. From Croatian, Dolenc translated Žarko Benčić's S trnkom po Jadranu in 2003, published by Grahovac & Co., a work centered on Adriatic experiences that aligns with his own nautical interests. He followed this with Vonji in okusi dalmatinske kuhinje by Ante Ivić and Stjepan Dunatov in 2004, exploring Dalmatian culinary traditions. These Croatian translations particularly reflect his lifelong fascination with the sea and Adriatic culture.

Awards and honors

Major literary awards received

Mate Dolenc has been honored with several major literary awards in Slovenia, reflecting his contributions to both adult and youth literature. In 1986, he received the Levstik Award for his youth novel Morska dežela na železniški postaji and the Kajuh Award. In 1995, he won the Prešeren Foundation Award. His work in children's and youth literature has earned additional recognition, including the Večernica Award in 2010 for Maščevanje male ostrige. He also received the Desetnica Award twice from the Slovenian Writers' Association, in 2004 for Leteča ladja and in 2015 for Mali princ z otoka. These accolades highlight his lasting impact across different genres and age groups in Slovenian literature.

Film and television adaptations

Television films based on his novels

Two television films adapted from Mate Dolenc's novels were produced and broadcast by TV Slovenija in 2008. The first, Morje v času mrka, featured screenplay and direction by Jure Pervanje, marking an adaptation of Dolenc's novel of the same name. The production highlighted underwater filming techniques and starred Boris Cavazza in a leading role. The second adaptation, Vampir z Gorjancev, was scripted and directed by Vinci Vogue Anžlovar, drawing from Dolenc's earlier novel of the same title. This film is a Slovenian fiction feature TV production centered on the source novel's narrative. These works represent adaptations of Dolenc's novels originally published in 2000 and 1979, respectively.

Legacy and recognition

Influence on Slovenian literature

Mate Dolenc has exerted a notable influence on Slovenian literature by pioneering the integration of nautical, sea, and underwater themes into prose, particularly within youth and children's works, where he merges adventure narratives with ecological awareness and respect for the marine environment. His extensive use of Adriatic settings, diving motifs, and marine life portrays the sea as a space of freedom, mystery, and human vulnerability, enriching a literary tradition often more focused on terrestrial or urban experiences. In children's and youth literature, Dolenc's contributions stand out through his short modern fairy tales and stories that subtly embed social criticism, environmental concern, and moral reflection, often employing humor, irony, and dual-layered narratives accessible to both young and adult readers. These works promote ecological consciousness by addressing issues such as nature conservation, human irresponsibility toward the environment, and the interconnectedness of human and animal worlds, thereby expanding the thematic scope of Slovenian juvenile fiction beyond traditional didactic approaches. Dolenc's nautical and ecologically oriented books maintain a regular presence in Slovenian primary school reading recommendations and programs, ensuring ongoing engagement with his themes among younger generations. For instance, Ozvezdje Jadran frequently appears in compulsory or suggested reading lists, highlighting his lasting role in shaping young readers' exposure to maritime literature and environmental values. His blend of rural motifs—seen in earlier explorations of folklore and village life—with dominant sea themes further broadens the diversity of contemporary Slovenian prose.

References

  1. https://www.jakrs.si/fileadmin/datoteke/Nova_spletna_stran/Predstavitvena_gradiva/Katalogi/Slo_best_for_young_readers_2014-katalog-ang.pdf
  2. http://www.ljudmila.org/litcenter/frankfurt/2002/dolenc.html
  3. https://sloveniatimes.com/8979/dolenc-gets-desetnica-for-best-childrens-book
  4. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4630746/
  5. https://www.slovenska-biografija.si/oseba/sbi1025270/
  6. https://pocketbook.de/en/author/mate-dolenc
  7. https://kids.kiddle.co/Mate_Dolenc
  8. https://bsf.si/sl/ime/mate-dolenc/
  9. https://beletrina.si/avtor/mate-dolenc
  10. https://misli.sta.si/3473104/pisatelj-in-prevajalec-mate-dolenc-praznuje-80-let
  11. https://airbeletrina.si/avtorji/mate-dolenc/
  12. https://zkp.rtvslo.si/sl/Zvocne_knjige/mate_dolenc_pes_z_atlantide_/
  13. https://bib.cobiss.net/bibliographies/si/webBiblio/bib201_20251025_032552_a203107.html
  14. https://books.google.com/books/about/Morska_de%C5%BEela_na_%C5%BEelezni%C5%A1ki_postaji.html?id=JYclPAAACAAJ
  15. https://www.rtvslo.si/kultura/knjige/nagrada-desetnica-drugic-v-roke-mateta-dolenca/365083
  16. https://books.google.com/books/about/Ozvezdje_Jadran.html?id=_pPnAAAAMAAJ
  17. https://www.dobreknjige.si/knjige/ozvezdje-jadran/
  18. https://drustvo-dsp.si/en/childrens-and-youth-literature/
  19. https://zastarse.si/knjizna-polica/mali-princ-z-otoka-nagrada-desetnica-mate-dolenc/
  20. https://books.google.com/books/about/Vesoljski_bojevniki.html?id=ezwyAAAACAAJ
  21. https://www.mklj.si/gradivo/vesoljski-bojevniki/
  22. https://www.antikvariatalef.si/izdelek/zarko-bencic-s-trnkom-po-jadranu/
  23. https://web.archive.org/web/20180826214407/http://www.mladinska.com/knjige/knjizne_nagrade/levstikove__nagrade
  24. https://www.culture.si/en/Ve%C4%8Dernica_Award
  25. https://www.goodreads.com/award/show/26919-desetnica
  26. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2024463/
  27. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2024552/
  28. https://www.rtvslo.si/kultura/film-in-tv/boris-cavazza-v-prvem-podmorskem-filmu/155247
  29. https://bsf.si/en/movie/vampir-z-gorjancev/
  30. https://airbeletrina.si/knjiga-priznanj-mate-dolenc/
  31. https://www.dalkeyarchive.com/2013/09/06/mere-words-mere-art-slovenian-literature-ten-plus-novels/
  32. https://slov.si/dipl/strumbl_nina.pdf
  33. https://www.os-bled.si/files/2025/10/DB-2025-2026_6.-9.-r.pdf
  34. https://www.os-stranje.si/knjiznica/slovenska-in-angleska-bralna-znacka/
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