Two Croatian literary gems have been named among the 12 best-translated works of 2024 by the renowned Paris Review, marking a significant moment for Croatia’s literary scene, reports N1. The selected works—Dubravka Ugrešić’s A Muzzle for Witches and Damir Karakaš’s Celebration—demonstrate the country’s burgeoning reputation in global literature, as reported by publisher OceanMore on Friday.
Ugrešić: An Intellectual Powerhouse
Dubravka Ugrešić, a towering figure in European literature, continues to captivate with her incisive prose and anti-nationalist perspective. Her latest work, A Muzzle for Witches, originally published by Naklada Ljevak, is split into two compelling sections. The first revisits her beloved character, Stefica Cvek, offering a heartfelt homage, while the second features a profound discussion with feminist scholar Merima Omeragić on today’s social and cultural challenges.
The Paris Review praises Ugrešić as “an essential thinker for our precarious times,” commending her unparalleled ability to blend intellectual depth with stylistic grace. The book’s English translation, by celebrated translator Ellen Elias-Bursać, is published by New York’s Open Letter Books.
Karakaš: A Haunting Literary Achievement
Damir Karakaš’s Celebration, translated by Elias-Bursać and published by San Francisco’s Two Lines Press, has earned critical acclaim for its emotional depth and literary finesse. American critic Robert Allen Papinchak describes the novel as “breathtaking,” drawing comparisons to the works of Boris Pasternak and Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn.
Karakaš’s story of resilience and human complexity has also found success on the silver screen. Its cinematic adaptation debuted at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival and won the prestigious Grand Golden Arena at Croatia’s Pula Film Festival.
Croatian Literature on the Rise
The inclusion of these works in such a prestigious list highlights the growing prominence of Croatian authors on the global stage. Ugrešić and Karakaš’s contributions go beyond national borders, offering profound reflections on humanity that resonate worldwide. Their success signals a bright future for Croatian literature in the international arena.
