In this work an eyewitness to the break-up of Yugoslavia provides an account of the rise, fall and rebirth of Croatia from its mediaeval origins to the start of the 21st century. This edition is updated and follows Croatia's progress to democracy since the death of President Franjo Tudjman.

Croatia: A Nation Forged in War

The new novel from the winner of the Commonwealth Writer’s Prize, The Hired Man is a taut, powerful novel of a small town and its dark wartime secrets, unwittingly brought into the light by a family of outsiders.

Aminatta Forna has established herself as one of our most perceptive and uncompromising chroniclers of war and the way it reverberates, sometimes imperceptibly, in the daily lives of those touched by it. With The Hired Man, she has delivered a tale of a Croatian village after the War of Independence, and a family of newcomers who expose its secrets.

Duro is off on a morning’s hunt when he sees something one rarely does in Gost: a strange car. Later that day, he overhears its occupants, a British woman, Laura, and her two children, who have taken up residence in a house Duro knows well. He offers his assistance getting their water working again, and soon he is at the house every day, helping get it ready as their summer cottage, and serving as Laura’s trusted confidant.

But the other residents of Gost are not as pleased to have the interlopers, and as Duro and Laura’s daughter Grace uncover and begin to restore a mosaic in the front that has been plastered over, Duro must be increasingly creative to shield the family from the town’s hostility, and his own past with the house’s former occupants. As the inhabitants of Gost go about their days, working, striving to better themselves and their town, and arguing, the town’s volatile truths whisper ever louder.

A masterpiece of storytelling haunted by lost love and a restrained menace, this novel recalls Disgrace by J.M. Coetzee and Anil’s Ghost by Michael Ondaatje. The Hired Man confirms Aminatta Forna as one of our most important writers.

The Hired Man

You probably came to Croatia because you saw an irresistible ad “Croatia is beautiful” or a trusted friend told you that it’s a place you can’t miss visiting this year. And they all were right, Croatia is all they say and more. However, if you only limit yourself to gazing over azure sea or visiting a bunch of old ruins, you will never find out how the real Croatians actually live amongst the bloody history of wars gone by and beauty of the land of sea and light.

However, Cody McClain Brown, not-so-average American guy who met a not-so-average Croatian girl and managed to woo her, (a lengthy affair that ended up in marriage) will tell you what life here is all about. There is the endless coffee-drinking, there are dangers of mysterious drafts that lurk behind every open window, there are mothers-in-law, ubiquitous pillars of society and the absolute importance of wearing slippers, but there is also the meaning of friendship and life being lived in a slower, more connected way. His insightful, humorous and open-minded anecdotes will make you feel as if you lived here, at least for a short while. And maybe make you wish to visit us again!

Chasing a Croatian Girl: A Survivor's Tale

From the assassination that triggered WW I to the ethnic warfare in Serbia, Bosnia &amp; Croatia, the Balkans have been the crucible of the 20th century, the place where terrorism &amp; genocide 1st became tools of policy. Chosen as one of the Best Books of the Year by "The NY Times", &amp; greeted with critical acclaim as "the most insightful &amp; timely work on the Balkans to date" by "The Boston Globe", Kaplan's prescient, enthralling &amp; often chilling political travelogue is already a modern classic.

Fantasmas balcánicos

For most of its history, Zagreb was a small town to which big things happened. It has been ruled by Hungary and the Habsburg Monarchy, threatened by the Ottomans, and absorbed into Yugoslavia. Today it is the capital city of the newly independent Croatia.
 In "Zagreb: A Cultural History", Celia Hawkesworth guides us through a modern city that reflects all the important trends in Central European culture, architecture, and fashion. We visit the city's center, a beautiful "green horseshoe," graced with trees and public gardens, and lined with imposing buildings. Hawkesworth explores this central core and the atmospheric old town on a rise above it, finding a mix of old and modern buildings, a rich cultural tradition, and a vibrant outdoor cafe life. She describes the many statues in the streets and squares, commemorating those who have contributed to the city's unique inner life. She also examines the legacy of outside invasion, fire, earthquakes, and political strife, pointing to the street names that reflect Zagreb's turbulent past. Zagreb illuminates the artistic side of the city, discussing the sculpture of Ivan Mestrovic, the unique collections of paintings in the Strossmayer and Modern Galleries, and the novels and plays of Miroslav Krleza. 
 A perfect book for armchair travelers, "Zagreb" takes us on a captivating tour of one of Eastern Europe's leading cities.


Zagreb: A Cultural History

You can count on Rick Steves to tell you what you "really" need to know when traveling to Croatia and Slovenia.

With this guide, you'll explore charming towns and undiscovered natural wonders. Stroll atop the walls that encircle romantic Dubrovnik, wander through the Roman ruins in the heart of bustling Split, and set sail to the islands of Korcula and Hvar on the glimmering Adriatic. Feel the spray from the waterfalls at Plitvice Lakes National Park. Drive mountain passes in Slovenia's idyllic Julian Alps. And take side-trips to Montenegro's dramatic Bay of Kotor and the Turkish-flavored city of Mostar in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Rick's candid, humorous advice will guide you to good-value hotels and restaurants. He'll help you plan where to go and what to see, depending on the length of your trip. You'll get up-to-date recommendations on what's worth your time and money. More than just reviews and directions, a Rick Steves guidebook is a tour guide in your pocket.

Rick Steves' Croatia and Slovenia

Between emerging as a settlement in the 7th century to its conquest by Napoleon at the beginning of the 19th, Dubrovnik repeatedly held a significant position beyond what could have been expected of this tiny city-state. Its diplomatic expertise was legendary, its political stamina extraordinary; its merchants, trading throughout the huge Ottoman Empire, enjoyed privileges denied to other Western states. A politically skilled and commercially enterprising ruling class took every opportunity to maximise the Ragusan Republic's wealth. But Dubrovnik also faced the extreme dangers posed by Venetian plotters, Ottoman aggressors, a terrible earthquake in 1667 and, finally, Napoleon. In modern times, the city has survived the besieging Yugoslav army in 1991-92, which heavily damaged but did not destroy Dubrovnik's cultural heritage.

Dubrovnik: A History

In 1994, Rwanda was the scene of the first acts since World War II to be legally defined as genocide. Two years later, Clea Koff, a twenty-three-year-old forensic anthropologist, left the safe confines of a lab in Berkeley, California, to serve as one of sixteen scientists chosen by the United Nations to unearth the physical evidence of the Rwandan genocide. Over the next four years, Koff’s grueling investigations took her across geography synonymous with some of the worst crimes of the twentieth century. "

The Bone Woman" is Koff’s unflinching, riveting account of her seven UN missions to Bosnia, Croatia, Kosovo, and Rwanda, as she shares what she saw, how it affected her, who was prosecuted based on evidence she found, and what she learned about the world. Yet even as she recounts the hellish nature of her work and the heartbreak of the survivors, she imbues her story with purpose, humanity, and a sense of justice. A tale of science in service of human rights, "The Bone Woman" is, even more profoundly, a story of hope and enduring moral principles.

The Bone Woman: A Forensic Anthropologist's Search for Truth in the Mass Graves of Rwanda, Bosnia, Croatia, and Kosovo

Immigrant writer Novakovich records his journeys to find his roots, some to his native Croatia, some no farther than Cleveland, where he searches for the grave of his grandmother, who refused to return to Croatia with the rest of her family. This moving collection reflects the joys and the difficulties in returning to a homeland left behind.

"Novakovich is a strong, original writer. His subtle prose makes me beam with pleasure, and break into an anxious sweat at the same time. He has mastered the tone of bearing witness as a principle of moral literature."—Philip Lopate, "The Art of the Personal Essay"

Josip Novakovich is the author of "Yolk, Apricots from Chernobyl", and "Salvation and Other Disasters".

Plum Brandy: Croation Journeys

"Črna mati zemla" roman je o uspješnom mladom piscu, Matiji Dolenčecu, koji stvaralačku i ljubavnu blokadu pokušava otkloniti dosežući vlastitu, do amnezije potisnutu priču, onu koju je kompenzirao izmišljanjem svih drugih priča. Potisnuto u Dolenčecovu životu traumatična je priča o njegovu djetinjstvu u međimurskom selu, o smrti oca, o osam samoubojstava, dva demona, gubitku prijatelja, o velikim mitovima i lokalnim legendama, o otvorenom povijesnom prijelomu 1991., svakodnevnim lažima i složenim osjećajima - ubojicama života.

Dark Mother Earth

Gold, frankincense, and myrrh were more than precious gifts; they were symbols of everything Christ would become. Discover the meaning behind these treasures and what they foretold about the events of Gethsemane, Golgotha, and the Garden Tomb. Inspiring and informative, this pamphlet will add depth and insight to your holidays. It’s the perfect gift for your family and friends this Christmas season.

Holy Gifts: The True Meaning of Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh

Under a Croatian Sun

Merriam Press Military History. Lika is a region of Croatia known for its soldiers and poverty. This history of Lika has been divided into four epochs: the first, ancient Lika, when Lika was part of the Roman Empire; the second, Slav-Croatian Lika, that existed prior to the arrival of the Ottomans, when Lika was integrated into the European feudal system; the third, the Turkish wars, when the Habsburgs and their army controlled Lika; the fourth, from the 19th century to the present, when the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, the country that became Yugoslavia, replaced Austrian rule in Lika. The author's family is from the Lika region of western Croatia. This is the only known history of Lika in English.

The History of Lika, Croatia: Land of War and Warriors

Travel writer and Croatia resident Shann Fountain Culo shares her love of the locale from the wooden village houses, folk festivals, and wineries of Croatia to the rafting, skiing, and cave-exploring opportunities that abound in Slovenia. Shann includes unique itineraries such as the 14-Day Best of Croatia and Slovenia, A Culinary Tour of Istria and Dalmatia, and Sailing the Croatian Islands. "Moon Croatia and Slovenia" is packed with information on the best dining, transportation, and accommodations. Complete with expert advice on when to explore the city sans tourists, participate in the grape harvest season or ski in the Julian Alps, "Moon Croatia and Slovenia" gives travelers the tools they need to create a more personal and memorable experience.


Moon Handbooks Croatia & Slovenia

A Taste of Croatia: Savoring the Food, People and Traditions of Croatia's Adriatic Coast

In "The Death Camps of Croatia", Raphael Israeli shows that throughout Yugoslavia during World War II, anti-semitism was both deeply rooted and widespread. This book traces the circumstances and the historical context in which the pro-Nazi Ustasha state, encompassing Croatia and Bosnia, erected the Jadovno and Jasenovac death camps. Israeli distills fact and historical record from accusation and grievance, noting that seventy years later, the gap in research and the collection of data, memoirs, and oral histories has become almost irreparable. This volume meets the challenge, basing its conclusions on evidence from participants from the period.

The battle between the Serbs and the Croats is not likely to be settled any time soon. Both sides have accused the other of the wrongdoings that everyone knows occurred. While the German Nazis, Croat Ustasha, Serbian collaborators, Cetnicks, and Bosnian Hanjar recruits are often seen as the wrongdoers, there were individuals who helped the Jews, hid them at great risk, and enabled them to survive. These people absorbed the Jews in their own ranks, and gave them the means to fight; they were the only people who helped the Jews.

This volume is not about judging one side or the other; it is about acknowledging the evil all sides inflicted upon the Jewish minority in their midst. Serbs, Muslims, and Croats continue to dominate the ex-Yugoslavian scene. It has been their arena of battle for centuries, while the flourishing Jewish minority culture in that area has all but come to a historical standstill and has almost completely vanished. Yet the struggle over the historical record continues.

The Death Camps of Croatia: Visions and Revisions, 1941-1945

"The Rough Guide to Croatia" is the ultimate travel guide to one of Mediterranean Europe's most beautiful and unspoiled countries. With over a thousand islands, clear blue waters, inland waterfalls, stylish cities, Roman remains and medieval towns, Croatia packs a punch far above its size.

With "The Rough Guide to Croatia", you'll discover the best of the country's inventive local food scene, off-the-beaten track beaches and summer festivals. It leads you through the country with reliable and comprehensive coverage of all the sights and attractions, from walking a circuit of Dubrovnik's city walls to exploring the labyrinthine streets of Spilt, plus practical advice on everything from sea kayaking and mountain hiking to catamaran routes and unusual places to stay.

Up-to-date listings pinpoint the best cafés, hotels, shops, nightlife and restaurants for all budgets, while easy-to-use, full-colour maps ensure that you won't miss a thing.

Make the most of your trip with "The Rough Guide to Croatia."

The Rough Guide to Croatia


  "A middle class, Midwestern family in search of meaning uproot themselves and move to their ancestral village in Croatia"


""We can look at this in two ways," Jim wrote, always the pragmatist. "We can panic and scrap the whole idea. Or we can take this as a sign. They're saying the economy is going to get worse before it gets better. Maybe this is the kick in the pants we needed to do something completely different. There will always be an excuse not to go…""

"And that, friends, is how a typically sane middle-aged mother decided to drag her family back to a forlorn mountain village in the backwoods of Croatia."

So begins the author's journey in "Running Away to Home". Jen, her architect husband, Jim, and their two children had been living the typical soccer- and ballet-practice life in the most Middle American of places: Des Moines, Iowa. They overindulged themselves and their kids, and as a family they were losing one another in the rush of work, school, and activities. One day, Jen and her husband looked at each other–both holding their Starbucks coffee as they headed out to their SUV in the mall parking lot, while the kids complained about the inferiority of the toys they just got–and asked themselves: "Is this the American dream? Because if it is, it sort of sucks."

Jim and Jen had always dreamed of taking a family sabbatical in another country, so when they lost half their savings in the stock-market crash, it seemed like just a crazy enough time to do it. High on wanderlust, they left the troubled landscape of contemporary America for the Croatian mountain village of Mrkopalj, the land of Jennifer's ancestors. It was a village that seemed hermetically sealed for the last one hundred years, with a population of eight hundred (mostly drunken) residents and a herd of sheep milling around the post office. For several months they lived like locals, from milking the neighbor's cows to eating roasted pig on a spit to desperately seeking the village recipe for bootleg liquor. As the Wilson-Hoff family struggled to stay sane (and warm), what they found was much deeper and bigger than themselves.

Running Away to Home: Our Family's Journey to Croatia in Search of Who We Are, Where We Came From, and What Really Matters

Part cookbook, part celebration of the picturesque Croatian coast and its fresh, simple cuisine, this is sure to capture the hearts of those who want to know more about Croatian culture.

" is a celebration of the food of Croatia's Dalmatian Coast, a region with a long, rich history, but one that is only slowly coming to prominence as tourists continue to discover its rugged beauty, blue waters and rustic, simple cuisine.

Alongside more than 80 achievable recipes (presented as Salads &amp; Vegetables; Seafood; Meat; Desserts and Drinks), the book sells the dream - and a sense of discovery. It tells the story of this place, in words and pictures, communicating both to people who aspire to experience it for themselves, and to those with fond memories of having done so.

Accompanied with stunning local photography of both this beautiful region and the culinary experiences it offers, " will transport you to the shores of Croatia from your home kitchen.""

Croatia

Croatia: A Nation Forged in War

Marcus Tanner

The Hired Man

Aminatta Forna

Chasing a Croatian Girl: A Survivor's Tale

Cody McClain Brown

Fantasmas balcánicos

Robert D. Kaplan

Zagreb: A Cultural History

Celia Hawkesworth

Rick Steves' Croatia and Slovenia

Rick Steves

Dubrovnik: A History

Robin Harris

The Bone Woman: A Forensic Anthropologist's Search for Truth in the Mass Graves of Rwanda, Bosnia, Croatia, and Kosovo

Clea Koff

Plum Brandy: Croation Journeys

Josip Novakovich

Dark Mother Earth

Kristian Novak

Holy Gifts: The True Meaning of Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh

Mark A. Shields

Under a Croatian Sun

Anthony Stancomb

The History of Lika, Croatia: Land of War and Warriors

John R Oreskovich

Moon Handbooks Croatia & Slovenia

Shann Fountain Culo

A Taste of Croatia: Savoring the Food, People and Traditions of Croatia's Adriatic Coast

Karen Evenden

The Death Camps of Croatia: Visions and Revisions, 1941-1945

Raphael Israeli

The Rough Guide to Croatia

Rough Guides

Running Away to Home: Our Family's Journey to Croatia in Search of Who We Are, Where We Came From, and What Really Matters

Jennifer Wilson

Dalmatia: Recipes from Croatia's Mediterranean Coast

Ino Kuvacic