The Jugoslavs form a national unit and areethnologically part of the Slavonic race. Jugoslav literature begins withtranslations of the Bible by Cyril and Methodius, the “Slavonic Apostles,”about the middle of the Ninth Century. During the first period of the nation`sliterary history, from the Twelfth to the Fifteenth Century, severalbiographies and chronicles were produced.

Toward the end of the Fourteenth Centuryand until the beginning of the Nineteenth Century the Jugoslavs fell under thedomination of the Turks, who practically arrested national life. There were,however, those who, despite this catastrophe, tried to carry on the traditionsof their literature.

The deliverance from Turkish rule broughtwith it a gradual revival. At first, however, little was written in theJugoslav languages (Serbian, Croatian, and Slovenian), because the printingpresses throughout the country had been destroyed by the Turks. The booksimported from Russia were pr