ARHAR Vojan Tihomir

ARHAR Vojan Tihomir (20 July 1922, Ljutomer – 10 November 2007, Ljubljana) was a Slovenian poet, writer, publicist, librarian and professor, known primarily for his works for children. He was born to Anton Arhar and Lidija (née Zagorjan). He attended elementary school in Ljubljana (on Ledina) and secondary school (gymnasium) in Celje, Ljubljana and Sremski Karlovci. During the Second World War he was arrested and spent some time in the camps of Gonars and Monigo-Treviso, where he completed his secondary-school leaving examination (matura) in the spring of 1943. After the war he studied history and geography at the Faculty of Arts in Ljubljana (graduating in 1953) and later also psychology (graduating in 1972). He worked as a librarian at the National and University Library (NUK), as a teacher at the Temporary Youth Home, and as an adviser and documentalist in state and municipal bodies. He retired in 1989. After retirement he also lived in Stična.

He began his literary career in the 1960s. He wrote approximately 1,000 poems, riddles and short prose works, mainly for children, featuring motifs of nature, the seasons and animals. His poems are simple, sonorous and playful; some have been set to music (e.g. Mucek by Janez Bitenc). Among his more important works are the collections Sončne statve (1970, co-authored), Capljači (1972), Kresnice (1974), Ogenjček (1980), Letni časi, 99 orehkov (riddles) and others. He also wrote for adults (e.g. Šepetanje duše, Pozabljena lutnja) as well as publicistic works, including pieces about Father Simon Ašič and the Stična Abbey (Oživljena tihota).

Arhar was an outstanding poet for the youngest readers and enriched Slovenian children’s literature with his works.