Усна народна книжевност

Oral Folk Literature (Усна народна книжевност), authored by Tome Sazdov and published by Detska Radost in Skopje, is a comprehensive study of Macedonian oral folk traditions, spanning poetry and prose. Drawing on historical records, it traces the existence of Macedonian folk poetry to Byzantine accounts from 592 CE and 14th-century Strumica performances noted by Nikifor Gregoras, highlighting early epic heroic songs and lyric traditions.

The book emphasizes key collections, including Vuk Karadžić’s 1815 and 1822 publications of Macedonian songs, Stefan Verković’s 1860 Belgrade collection, and the Miladinov brothers’ 1861 Zagreb anthology, despite its misleading title. It also underscores Kuzman Shapkarev’s extensive late-19th-century compilations, which included 1,318 songs, stories, legends, and other prose forms.

The work explores the development, diversity, and cultural significance of Macedonian oral literature, positioning it within the broader South Slavic and Balkan traditions, with a focus on its historical depth and regional variations.