Ivan Gundulić

Author. He was a Baroque poet from the Republic of Ragusa, which is now in Croatia. Born Dživo Franov Gundulić into an aristocratic family in Dubrovnik, his father, Francesco Gundulić was once the Ragusan envoy to Constantinople and councilor of the republic. He was educated by Croatian priest Petar Palikuća before he held several public positions including a captain of the night, supervisor of the armament magazine, member of the Senate, and judge. He was famous for three works in particular, "Dubravka," "Suze Sina Razmetnoga," and "Osman." His epic poem "Osman," which the oldest existing copy is dated approximately 1651, was first published in 1826 in an English translation. He published ten plays and four have survived to the 21st century yet all are in Italian. His works carry the two themes of Christian ethics and nationalism. The religious poem "Tears of the Prodigal Son" was based on the Parable of the Prodigal Son from the Bible.