Book Description
In his travels through Croatia, Tony Fabijancic saw a world of peasants, shepherds and fishermen irrevocably giving way to the new reality of a modern European state. With a deft and sure touch, he records moments that capture the lingering spirit of the old world even as the former fabric of this place is unravelling forever. The author's profound familiarity with the "extraordinary regionality" of Croatia leads to memorable images of the country, and to sketches and unhurried ruminations on its people, its landscapes, kitchens, cities, and coastlines.
Publisher comments
There is, in old Croatia, an undiscovered country that is passing away, a world of peasants, shepherds and fishermen irrevocably surrendering before the reality of a modern European state. When Tony Fabijancic travelled to Croatia he was returning to his own undiscovered country. With the tongue of a native but the eyes of an outsider, he journeyed the old country of his father. He sought out the hidden corners where he could hear the earthy stories of country people. With thoughtful portraits, he throws open a personal window into a labyrinthine world of character and identity. Outside a church in Pag, the author experienced a flash of eternity, an epiphany into his own mortality. Tapping into a new-found strength, he travelled the expanse of Croatia, conducting a personal investigation into its extraordinary regionality while commenting on the complex history of adeeply layered landscape. In fine style, he transports the reader to the Adriatic in the summer: the blast of heat, the smell of dust, the bountiful kitchen gardens, and the impromptu ritual of sljivovica at outdoor tables. Most of all, we are introduced to rural men and women who, along with their hospitality, openly share their views on their lot in the new Croatia. Written with sensitivity and balance, Croatia: Travels in Undiscovered Country is smart, literate, travel writing that takes us to the heart of a fascinating land.
