javoršek was born as jože brejc in the small lower carniolan town of velike lašče, in what was then the kingdom of serbs, croats and slovenes. he studied comparative literature at the university of ljubljana. during his student years, he became involved with slovenian christian socialist groups, where he met the poet and thinker edvard kocbek. kocbek had a huge influence on javoršek, encouraging him to pursue a literary career.