Canonical poetry anthologies published in Zagreb during the 1970s

Publishers in Zagreb released several influential literary anthologies during the first half of the 1970s to shape the cultural and literary formation of Croatian generations.

The publishing house Školska knjiga commissioned Sveta Lukić, a prominent Belgrade writer and literary theorist, to create an anthology of Serbian poetry in 1974. Lukić organized the collection with introductory texts, biographies of poets, and critical reviews to serve both as educational tools for high school students and as guides for general readers.

This work appeared alongside other major collections, including Ciril Zlobec's anthology of Slavic poetry and a collection of Croatian poetry by Slamnig covering the period from Kačić Miošić to A. G. Matoš. These publications utilized a consistent graphic design by Jelena Musić, featuring white covers with red and black lettering. Branko Hećimović served as the editor for the Dobra knjiga library, which hosted many of these works.

While Lukić's anthology focused on the future and the modern era by starting with Jovan Sterija Popović and ending with contemporary figures like Matija Bećković, Slamnig's collection looked toward a mythical past, ending its scope with Matoš. The author of the article notes that these anthologies functioned as essential tools for mastering language and style. By providing a foundation in established literary traditions, these books helped readers move beyond common places and weak metaphors.

Today, these influential volumes can be found in second-hand bookstores across the region.