Iveljić Iskra: Očevi i sinovi: Privredna elita Zagreba u drugoj polovici 19. st.

Iskra Iveljić: Fathers and Sons of the Economic Elite of Zagreb in the Second Half of the 19th Century

This book is a synthetic presentation of the activities and daily life of two generations of elite businessmen in Zagreb: the fathers belong to the first generation of the modern business class, and the sons are active at the turn of the 19th to the 20th century.

The author highlights the heterogeneity of the structure of the economic elite, looking back and on confessional and ethnic affiliation, and shows its relationship to two key processes of the 19th century: modernization and the national question. In this connection, the activities of businessmen in the economic, political and cultural spheres are discussed in detail. Thus, in the chapter "The age of work and brainstorming", the foundation of financial institutions and industrial plants, participation in economic exhibitions, the development of traffic, trade and entrepreneurship, as well as the views of businessmen on economic liberalization, are particularly discussed. The political engagement of the business elite was shown at the high level of the Ban Conferences and the Croatian Parliament, but also at the local level in the representation of the city, which a significant part of businessmen were interested in, participating in the process of transforming Zagreb into a modern urban, administrative and national center. The third important segment is dedicated to culture and education, so the author deals in detail with the participation of businessmen in the establishment and work of cultural associations and institutions, and their efforts to improve professional and general education. Given that some of the most successful businessmen tried to leave the business to their sons, a separate chapter is dedicated to the emergence of "business dynasties" such as the Alexander, Crnadak, Hatz, Pongratz, Prister and others families. The development of modern civil society changed the social position of women, and economic modernization brought about their more pronounced participation in the business sector, so the author deals with this issue as well, showing the activities of businesswomen and the position of women in businessmen's families. Finally, in a very comprehensive chapter, the author tried to cover the everyday life of the business elite, both in the work and private environment. It offered the reader an insight into the emergence of modern business culture, into family life, spending free time, the position of children and adolescents, visual presentation in portraits and photographs, and the culture of death (attitude towards death, method of burial, tombstones).