Croatian Nights

Book excerpt: Destination: Croatia. This anthology brings together nine British authors whose stories are set in Croatia and the surrounding areas, and nine authors from Croatia and Serbia, many appearing in translation for the first time. Over the past five years a writers' movement called FAK - Festival of alternative Literature (Knjizevnost) - has staged large literary festivals to enormously enthusiastic audiences in Croatia and Serbia, rejecting nationalism and renewing the opportunities for exchange between these countries and the UK. The authors collected here were brought together for the first time by FAK, but they also share a dark sense of humour, a directness of expression and a willingness to look beyond imposed boundaries. Funny, bleak, honest and completely unpretentious, these eighteen stories take you straight to the heart of the country that everyone's talking about. Whether you are interested in Croatia or modern fiction, these are the most rewarding short stories you'll read all year. Croatia is becoming an increasingly popular holiday destination, but this collection is more than just a holiday romance: it sidesteps all the obvious tourist cliches and reveals just what makes CROATIAN NIGHTS unique. Book jacket.