A BUILDER OF AN INN/ GRADITELJ SVRATIŠTA BY IVAN ARALICA (A BOOK REVIEW)

 Hello, there! Another day, another reading recommendation. Today I'd like to recommend a historical novel by Croatian author Ivan AralicaIvan Aralica. The title could be translated as The Builder of an Inn. The novel is set during Napoleon wars. More precisely, the novel takes places during the French occupation of Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The author is extremely knowledgeable about this period and exceptionally gifted at recreating past times. However, this novel is more focused on the psychological exploration of its main characters than on historical events or politics. 

I would dare to say this is the case with most (if not all) of Aralica's novels. Aralica is an author who focuses on the fates of 'common' people during turbulent historical times. Ivan Aralica's writing is more on the deep and philosophical side. He often writes about friendships formed between people belonging to different nations, religions and classes. Born in 1930, this author must have had a lot of life experience to draw and pull from. At 94 years young, I expect Ivan Aralica to continue writing. Scroll down for my book review!

Književna preporuka dana: roman Graditelj svratišta Ivan Aralice. Nekad mi se čini da je Aralica nepravedno podcijenjen unatoč svim nagradama koje je primio. Je li razlog tomu što su mu knjige rijetko i malo prevođene? Moramo li uvijek čekati neko vrednovanje izvana?

Aralica me uvelike podsjeća na Andrića. Ivan Aralica u svojim knjigama često razbija nacionalne mitove. Odličan je poznavatelj vremenskih perioda o kojima piše.

I picked up this novel about four years ago in Jelsa one of those book exchange boxes, but I only managed to finish it thanks to spring break and weekends. I love Aralica, but his novels need to be read with concentration. My work days are long. I desperately needed both that spring break and some reading time on the weekends! Life flies by so fast and even if I don't really see the traces of time when I look in the mirror yet, I do feel those traces on my soul. Sometimes a day of reading is what I need to recharge my mental batteries!

THE MOST UNDERAPRECIATED CROATIAN WRITER

In my view, Ivan Aralica is the most underappreciated Croatian writer of our times. I think this is partly due to the fact his works are not widely translated. If you check out his goodreads profile, you'll see that he has published many books but few of them have been translated. Here's what is written about his on his goodreads profile: 

"Born in Promina near Knin, and having finished pedagogical school and Philosophical Faculty at the University of Zadar, Aralica had worked in post-war period as a high school teacher in the backwater villages of the rural hinterland of northern and central Dalmatia. After a period of Communist infatuation (which resulted in a few weak novellas that can be labeled as socialist realism period pieces), Aralica was swept into the vortex of turbulent events known as the “Croatian spring” (1971). During this tumultuos era he allied with those who advocated greater Croatian autonomy and freedom for Croatian people in Communist Yugoslavia. The crackdown on the Croatian national movement and subsequent professional and social degradation resulted in Aralica’s return to his Christian and Catholic roots, abandonment of doctrinaire propagandist literature and formation of his own literary credo. Among world authors, he was influenced chiefly by realist fiction and early Modernism, the key authors being Ivo Andrić, Thomas Mann and Knut Hamsun.

From 1979 to 1989 Aralica published eight novels, which can be best described as modernist rewritings of historical fiction. The best among them (Psi u trgovištu/Dogs in a bazaar, 1979; Duše robova/Slaves’ souls, 1984; Graditelj svratišta/Builder of an inn, 1986; Asmodejev šal/Asmodey’s shawl, 1988) show similar traits: these are essentially novels of complex narrative techniques recreating dramatic events in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina from 16th to 18th century and describing historical fatum of Croats caught in the “clash of civilizations”- a three centuries long warfare between Austria, the Ottoman Empire and Venice. Aralica successfully mastered many divergent elements in his fiction, so that his finest novels are both replete with contemplative wisdom sayings on human condition and rammed with action; also, his artistry is expressed in numerous naturalist passages integrated in the overarching Christian vision of life where natural and the supernatural fuse into one reality."

NOT WIDELY TRANSLATED, BUT THERE IS A MOVIE ADAPTATION  OF ONE OF ARALICA'S NOVELS THAT YOU CAN SEE

Here's a link to the IMBd page of Konjanik (Horseman), a movie based on one of his historical novels. It's a pretty good movie as well. 

IVAN ARALICA AS A POLITICIAN AND A WRITER- TWO COMPLETELY DIFFERENT INVIDUALS

I wonder if people sometimes shy away from his work because Aralica has been so politically active. If that is a worry, rest assure that his novels are not political. His historical novels do not push any agenda's. If anything Aralica breaks nationalist myths. He often writes about friendship between people of different faiths, religions and nationalities. If you read his historical novels, you won't be able to tell anything about his political beliefs. He writes about the little people and how hard it is for them. He writes about the innocent people get hurt when those in power play their power games. Even when he writes about known historical figures, Aralica chooses the tragic ones. 

Aralica, Ivan, hrvatski književnik (Promina, 10. IX. 1930). Učiteljsku školu u Kninu završio 1953., a studij jugoslavistike na Filozofskom fakultetu u Zadru 1961. Radio kao učitelj u selima Dalmatinske zagore te kao ravnatelj Učiteljske škole, odnosno Pedagoške gimnazije u Zadru. Potkraj 1960-ih politički se angažirao u ostvarenju Hrvatskog proljeća; 1969–72. bio je i zastupnik u Saboru SR Hrvatske. Nakon sloma te politike smijenjen je s položaja ravnatelja (nastavlja raditi kao profesor), prestaje biti glavnim urednikom Zadarske revije te se povlači iz javnoga političkog života i posvećuje književnom radu. S političkim promjenama 1990. vraća se u politiku: na izborima 1993. postaje saborskim zastupnikom i potpredsjednikom Županijskog doma Sabora. S političkih se dužnosti povukao 2000. Redoviti je član HAZU od 1992. Dobitnik je Nagrade »Vladimir Nazor« za životno djelo 2010.

U ranom razdoblju književnog djelovanja piše socijalno angažiranu prozu, u kojoj analizira društvene promjene u poslijeratnom razdoblju (Svemu ima vrijeme, 1967; A primjer se zvao Laudina, 1969; Filip, 1970). U romanu Konjanik (1971) i zbirci pripovijedaka Opsjene paklenih crteža (1977) uobličuje teme iz hrvatske povijesti te time najavljuje glavnu kreativnu fazu svojega književnog opusa, u kojoj nastaju romani Psi u trgovištu (1979), Put bez sna (1982), Duše robova (1984), Graditelj svratišta (1986) i Asmodejev šal (1988). U njima istražuje povijest južne Hrvatske, osobito duhovnu i materijalnu baštinu žitelja Dalmatinske zagore; pokazuje njihov vitalizam u krajnje oskudnim uvjetima života na dalmatinskom kršu, ali i smisao za etičnost, pravdoljubivost i rodoljublje. Pritom se služi specifičnim jezičnim amalgamom zasnovanim na spajanju jezika i slikovnosti, svojstvenih franjevačkim kronikama, narodnoj književnosti, zapisima starih putopisaca i autentičnom narodnom govoru Dalmatinske zagore. Prikazujući južnu Hrvatsku i BiH kao područje na kojem se sučeljavaju razne religije i prepleću različiti civilizacijski utjecaji, služi se andrićevskom pripovjedačkom tehnikom, koju obilježuje učestalost autorskih komentara zasićenih tzv. univerzalnim iskazima te upotreba gnomskih konstrukcija, u kojima je lapidarno izražena vjekovna narodna mudrost. Potkraj 1980-ih vraća se društveno angažiranim temama s početka karijere, bavi se etičkim devijacijama socijalističkoga društvenog sustava i odnosom pobunjenoga kreativnog pojedinca prema totalitarnim mehanizmima vlasti (Okvir za mržnju, 1987) te analizom međuratnih kontroverzi u hrvatskom lijevom pokretu, koje se odražavaju i u poslijeratnim različitim koncepcijama nacije, države i društva (Tajna sarmatskog orla, 1989).

Domovinski rat popraćen nacionalnom homogenizacijom cjelokupnoga hrvatstva očitovao se i u Araličinoj težnji da, preuzimajući ulogu nacionalnog barda, izrazi kolektivne frustracije i ideale, što se očitovalo u naglašenoj rodoljubnoj simbolici romana Majka Marija (1992). U romanu Knjiga gorkog prijekora (1994) vraća se dalekoj povijesti hrvatskog naroda opisujući, na temelju povijesnih izvora, ranu mladost Elizabete Kotromanić, kćeri bosanskoga kralja Stjepana II. Zbirka pripovijedaka Gdje pjevac ne pjeva (1996) tematski je vezana za hrvatska stradanja u Domovinskom ratu. U romanu Četverored (1997) bavi se temom Bleiburga i tzv. križnog puta te tragičnim ideološkim podjelama hrvatskog naroda. U tzv. romanima s ključem (Ambra, 2001; Fukara, 2002; Puž, 2004) oštro se obračunava sa svojim ideološkim protivnicima, a u romanima Svetinka (2003), Sunce (2006) i Runolist (2008) zagovara katoličanstvo kao etičku okosnicu ljudske egzistencije. Radnja romana Život nastanjen sjenama (2009) smještena je u doba vojnooslobodilačke operacije Oluja u Domovinskom ratu.

U zbirci Pir ivanjskih krijesnica (1992) sabrani su žanrovski specifični kratki zapisi, objavljivani u časopisu Danas potkraj 1980-ih i početkom 1990-ih, u kojima Aralica, koristeći se tehnikom gnomskih iskaza, izlaže svoje nazore o životu i umjetnosti. U knjigama Zadah ocvalog imperija (1991), Sokak triju ruža (1992), Spletanje i raspletanje čvorova (1993), Što sam rekao o Bosni (1995) sabrani su političko-publicistički tekstovi, katkad i polemički intonirani, objavljivani 1990-ih u hrvatskim novinama, u kojima analizira prirodu srpskog imperijalizma, govori o potrebi zasnivanja samostalne hrvatske države, obrazlaže koncepciju nacionalne države i kulture, tumači razloge neodrživosti multietničkih država i dr.

Piše i filmske scenarije (Život sa stricem K. Papića, 1987; Gospa J. Sedlara, 1994; Četverored J. Sedlara, 1999; Konjanik B. Ivande, 2003), a neka su mu djela dramatizirana i izvedena u kazalištima (Propast Magnuma, Pir ivanjskih krijesnica).

Citiranje:

Aralica, Ivan. Hrvatska enciklopedija, mrežno izdanje. Leksikografski zavod Miroslav Krleža, 2013. – 2024. Pristupljeno 15.5.2024. <https://www.enciklopedija.hr/clanak/aralica-ivan>.

 A BUILDER OF AN INN/ GRADITELJ SVRATIŠTA BY IVAN ARALICA (A BOOK REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATION) 5/5

 A COMPLEX HISTORICAL NOVEL 

WITH A DEVELOPED PSYCHOLOGICAL PORTRAYAL OF CHARACTERS 

What kind of novel is A Builder of an Inn by Ivan Aralica?

It is a historical postmodernist novel told from the perspective of its protagonist, Jakov Grabovac. Postmodernist literature is basically characterized by the use of metafiction, unreliable narration, intertextuality, self-reflexivity. Moreover, Postmodernists writers often question authority. This novel has all of those qualities and characteristics, but they are not overly dominant. Postmodernist devices are uses subtly in this this novel. The critique of authority is quite general. The author doesn't really go into detail or take sides when it comes to critique authority. Aralica critizes  The same can be said for the magic realism elements. This novel feels more like a realistic novel with elements of a magic realism and postmodernism than the other way around.

What kind of narration does this novel use? Well, the novel uses the first person narration. Besides this first person narration, the author occasionally uses letters and 'historical' documents. These 'historical letters and documents' as well as unreliable narrative is in accordance with the postmodernist literature.

What is the narrator like? He's not completely reliable, because he doesn't reveal everything to us.  He tells us parts of the story, but it is as if he intentionally keeps some details out so we cannot connect the dots. All in all, Jakov Grbavac is a lovely narrator. You could call him an intellectual man, but he seems to be also quite sensitive. Jakov is open-minded and doesn't really try to explain rationally some of the novel's more fated (even somewhat paranormal) events. Jakov sort of just accepts them happening!

What is the opening of the novel like? I'm glad you asked! Jakov starts his narration by quoting his uncle who is to become an important character in the novel. 

"My uncle Ivan Peko, from whom I learned the most, used to say to me that I should think as much as possible, speak as less as possible, and never write. He had nothing against the beautiful conversation or the written word. Quite on the contrary! It was because he appreciated both the intellectual reading and honest conversation, that he believed that we cannot expect neither from a man who hurries to say the most as soon as possible. It can be gifted to us only by a man that has taught and done much, that experienced on his skin how stings hurt, how sweet kisses are, how betrayal burns and how ridiculous transformations are. "* 

*a quote from the novel, translated by me, page 5 in my edition. 

The introduction to the novel is telling. Uncle advises his nephew not to write, but the advice is not what it seems. The uncle only wishes his nephew to live life fully, to apply himself to studying life- before even contemplating writing. It's implied that writing is something for the mature ones. I wonder does he mean mature souls or mature age? For one can be mature even at a young age. At any rate, the uncle urges the nephew to do as much as thinking as possible. Think before you act, is what the advice is about. A man cannot speak well without thinking well, and certainly that applies to writing as well. Chi pensa bene, scrive bene. 

 Does this introductory paragraph imply that this is a novel the author himself has been waiting a long time to write? I just found this introductory page very interesting. Here is what our narrator tells us next:

"Rightfully or not, the uncle thought that a writer, stops to live the moment he picks up the pen. The writer is no longer a lake that receives, he's a source that spills. Seeing that nobody is a bottomless well, sooner or later, the writer will drain himself, and at the same time he'll not see that he has nothing to search for within himself. He will pour from an empty cup, repeat what he has said himself, and he will believe that he enriches the world and renews himself. "

I suppose the reason why I find these words so interesting is that I wonder if not Aralica is talking about himself and how he sees writing. Perhaps he's afraid of repeating himself, perhaps he's reminding himself how important it is for writing to be truly meaningful. At the same time, here I also see a warning for the creatives. People working in creative fields such as art, often drain themselves. It's important to stay balanced.

What else did the uncle say? Nothing that I wouldn't agree with myself: 

"It wasn't only the amount of experienced experiences that was vital for my uncles' opinion that one needs to wait with writing and be more economic with speech. He demanded such behaviour because of judgements that a man utters about certain things in different periods of his life. Unmature man speaks untrue judgement that a mature one will be ashamed of. If he is considerate and economic, he looses the courage to judge and review, which is a great shame. If he is thoughtless and rude, as soon as he realizes he was wring, he hurries to make a new judgement, contradicts himself, drives us crazy with his fickleness. This is a great nuisance because such people ruin at least one day in a life of every men."

The narrator Jakov goes on to talk about how in his youth he used the uncle's advice to justify his laziness. Later he realized that his theory would only be valid if at the end of our lives we would be given ten additional years at the end of our lives to write down everything that has happened to us. The narrator then reveals to us that he is writing this book while anticipating death. It was only due to slow administration that he's got the chance to write the book we're reading. He finishes this introducing by dating it- Šibenik, 1811. So, we can see that the book opens with a digression. 

THE FIRST PART 

In the first part of the book, Jakov tells us about his experiences building the road and the challenges he faced. While he does that, he also tells us about what is going on at the time. This way the author paints the society of that time. He mentions some important historical figures from those turbulent times. 

KATUSHA'S PROPHECY THAT ADDS ELEMENTS OF MAGIC REALISM TO THIS NOVEL

As the Jakov moves through chapters, he shares more of the history of his family.  In chapter 3, Katuša (pronounced Katusha) foretells the future of his family. She does it by burning a part of the field and observing what the animals do. The prophecy is tragic, but has something of a terrible beauty within itself. It was written somehow poetically as well. Once you finish reading this novel, you'll realize that Katuša's prophecy was absolutely true. This makes A Builder of an Inn seem like a novel of magic realism at times. 

A TALE FULL OF PERSONAL TRAGEDIES 

This is a tale filled with deaths and tragedies. Many known historical figures are mentioned, such as for example Diva Grabovčeva, who was (in this novel) the aunt of the protagonist/narrator Jakov. The narrator is very close with his aunt growing up, in fact she's like a mother to him. At different times in the novel, she is mentioned repeatedly. Diva has a significant role to play in this novel. She's a legendary figure in the folklore of Bosnia and Herzegovina. 

DIVA GRABOVČEVA AS A GIRL WHO STANDS UP TO  A BULLY

The legend of Diva Grabovčeva usually focuses on a religious aspect, her being willing to die rather than to part with her Catholic religion. There are more versions of this legend, but this is what it is at its core.

What I liked about Ivan Aralica's approach is that he didn't focus that much on the religion, rather he focused on the person. Yes, Diva is described as being exceptionally beautiful, but it is stressed that it is her inner beauty that really makes her otherworldly.  Aralica doesn't focus that much on her physical beauty, it's all about the strength of her personality. 

I mean obviously Diva is religious and not afraid to die, but there's more to it than than. Aralica really developed her character. I honestly believe her religion is quite secondary in all this. Diva was Catholic but in this version she could have belonged to any religion or just been generally spiritual.

She was brave in the sense she put what is right before her own life. She's a courageous girl who doesn't let a bully frighten her. The bey in question is portrayed as a serial abuser, a son of a wealthy bey who regularly kidnaps young girls and what not. The young bey (beg) doesn't particularly care about the nationality of the women he abuses,  so  the author moved away from the national myth. The young bey is so used to being protected by his wealth, he doesn't even dream of even having to pay repercussions for anything he might do. He's is in a way a symbol of the corruption of rich and powerful (perhaps even a symbol of a rotten government).

These two young people feel like both symbols and actual real people in this novel. Aralica breaths life into them. He puts effort into both portraying the family of Diva and the young bey, making them seem like authentically real people and not just symbols. Diva's story is subplot but it is so well incorporated into the novel. There's an introduction, the middle and the ending to this substory that makes it feel like a novel within a novel. 

THE REASON THE YOUNG BEY KILLS DIVA IS BECAUSE SHE'S NOT AFRAID OF HIM

Like all abusers, the bey gets off on pain. However, when he confronts the helpless tied Diva, she stands up to him. She tells him that while he might do what he wants with her,  but she will never be his, he will never have her soul. He kills Diva because he realizes she is superior to him. Diva is a mirror to his abuse of women. He sees himself as what he is- a completely worthless man. 

THERE'S ALSO A SUBTLE CRITIQUE OF POWER AND MONEY

This story carries within itself a bit of social commentary. Aralica describes the conditions in which bey was raised and explains how his wealth played a role in making him a monster. At the same time, the reader can almost feel sorry for him. While he kills Diva, it's clearly that he really kills himself. 

I REALLY CANNOT EXPRESS HOW MUCH I LIKED THE DIVA IN THIS VERSION

As I explained, Diva is a legendary figure in Croatian folklore, especially when it comes to Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina. 

However, despite learning about Diva at the University, reading legends about her, writing papers about her and attending operas focused on her, I've never really felt connected to Diva's story. It could be because I felt like the emphasis in all those interpretations was placed on her virginity, not on her as a person. I found the way she was portrayed quite sentimental (even to the point of being banal) and hence I didn't really care for her story. 

DIVA IN ARALICA'S VERSION IS SUCH A BEAUTIFUL SOUL

Aralica really manages to answer this question: Who was Diva? Why did she become this mythical figure? It was not due to her youth, beauty, virginity or anything of the sort. It was her psychological strength and superiority over a bully that killed her out of rage. 

Diva in this version doesn't care about her virginity at all. That's usually what the new interpretations of this legends seem to be hyperfocused on- and it always bothered me. Aralica's version is very different in the sense that it's neither focused on religion or nation, it's focused on Diva's intellectual and psychological strength. 

In Aralica's version of the story, Diva is not prepared to die to save her virginity, rather she's living her truth. Virginity actually doesn't mean anything to her in this version, as she sees the body as irrelevant, caring only for the soul.  Diva is killed not because she puts her virginity before her life but because she psychologically breaks a serial abuser. Now, that's a heroic death. It is not without meaning. 

THE STORY OF DIVA IS JUST ONE OF MANY TRAGIC STORIES IN THIS NOVEL THAT SERVE AS WARNING OF THE ABUSES OF POWER

I feel like Diva's story also tells of rebellion of the human spirit against the material forces. It can be interpreted as rebellion of an individual against the corrupt society and government. 

THE SECOND PART 

The second part of the novel starts on page 171. The main characters have been established and many events have taken place. The narrator of the book will have to go on a quest to find his sister's baby. I don't have the time to explain the whole plot now, but I will say that it is an extremely eventful and interesting novel. At times this book is also quite philosophical. It criticizes governments that are always blind for the suffering of the ordinary people, but the social criticism is not overbearing. 

To conclude, A Builder of an Inn is a wonderfully written and plotted novel. It honestly made me cry a couple of times. I found the tragic tales of its main characters to be very moving. Moreover, the book is a very mature piece of writing, poignant with wisdom and meaning. 

THE STORY OF MY OUTFIT

SUSTAINABLE FASHION

HOW TO STYLE ?

THESE METALIC HEELS- SEE HERE & HERE

THIS FLORAL DRESS- PLUS 20 WAYS TO WEAR HERE

THE FLORAL RUFFLED SHIRT- MORE WAYS TO STYLE HERE

(ALSO worn previously here and here)

MORE CROATIAN WRITERS TO READ

VENERA STOJAN, ŠKATULE I BATULE- This is the last Croatian writer I discovered!

MORE CONTAMPORARY CROATIAN AUTHORS I REVIEWED

Melem, Pavao Pavličić

Melem, is a lovely novel by Pavao Pavlichich. This Croatian writer has (so far) published 95 books (most of them are novels), so he must be doing something right when it comes to writing. His works have been translated to German, French, Czech,  Slovakian, Slovenian, Rumanian, Bulgarian, Macedonian and Danish language. Pavao, for me, is one of those authors whose works you're certain you will like even before you start reading them.

LJUDI KOJI SU SADILI DRVEĆE, JOSIP MLAKIĆ

+ In this post, I reviewed People Who Planted Trees (Ljudi koji su sadili drveće), a novel by Croatian writer Josip Mlakić. Published in 2010, this novel focuses on a group of war veterans and friends living in an unnamed city in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The city is left unnamed so that it can represent any city in Bosnia and Herzegovina. While the general atmosphere of this novel is bleak and depressive, the book ends on a more hopeful note.

MIRKO KOVAČ, GRAD U ZRCALU: OBITELJSKI NOKTURNO

In this post, you can find my  book review for The City In a Mirror, an autobiographical novel by Mirko Kovač. I don’t know if I’ve ever read a more magical, tender, layered, and melancholy autobiography. I have to admit that for me in the past, reading Kovač's works was a bit of a struggle. The city in a Mirror, on the contrary, I read without a pause, in one breath. This autobiographical work is the first book by Kovač that I have completely fallen in love with. 

HOW WE BROKE OUR LEGS BY MIRO GAVRAN

Gavran simply can't do no wrong. How We Broke Our Legs is one of the funniest books I've read so far. I passed this novel to to my husband, who  found it very funny as well. We both enjoyed this book, so I can (for once) give you a double recommendation.

KNJIGA O TARI, ZDENKO LEŠIĆ

This novel enchanted me. What kind of novel is it? I would describe it as a profound philosophical and autobiographical novel, written in a post-modernist style. Its author is a well-known Croatian University professor who has written numerous academic works, papers and books on the subject of literature. This unique book is skillfully, beautifully and eloquently written.

I TU JE KRAJ, IVAN ARALICA 

This book is actually a collection of essays written by Croatian writer Ivan Aralica. I picked up this book by chance and I'm happy I did. Now, I will say a few words about this book. It shed a new light on this writer, whom prior to reading this book, I have known only as a novelist. This book consists of two parts. The first part of this book consists of political essays and the second part consists of  writer's comments on his own literary work. It is well written and very interesting. 

DAMEN KAPRIC, ANKICA TOPIĆ

This is a novel by Ankica Topić, a Croatian author.  If I'm not mistaken this was my first read from this writer.  Ankica Topić is from Makarska, so from the same region in Croatia as yours truly (Dalmatia). Damen kapric is a wonderfully funny novel that starts of as a family comedy with elements of romance, but soon turns darker and evolves into a mystery of some kind.

DAMNED CROATIAN WOMEN BY MILANA RUNJIĆ 

Another book that I absolutely loved was Proklete Hrvatice- od Cvijete Zutorić do Ene Begović by Milana Runjić Vuković (here you can read my review for one of her other books). This book focuses on lives of several notable Croatian women. I found it absolutely fascinating and I enjoyed the writing style very much. 

MARINA ILI O BIOGRAFIJI, IRENA VRKLJAN

In this post I reviewed a novel Marina ili o biografiji (Marina or About Biography) by Croatian writer Irena Vrkljan.  Published in 1985, this lyrical novel is a poetical blend of biographical and autobiographic writing. This dual exploration of women's psyche and life is Vrljan's signature writing style. While writing about these two remarkably talented women with sad fates, Irena writes about her private sorrows as well.

Thank you for reading and visiting!