Farewell to Dubravka Ugrešić, an Advocate of Peace in Former Yugoslavia

Dubravka Ugrešić, a Croatian author, translator, and literary critic, passed away on September 26th, 2021, at the age of 72. The literary world has lost a powerful voice, an advocate of peace and unity, and a fierce critic of nationalism and xenophobia. Ugrešić’s work focuses on identity, exile, displacement, and memory, drawing from her own experience as a refugee from Yugoslavia during the 1990s.

Ugrešić’s Early Life and Career

Ugrešić was born in 1949 in Kutina, a small town in central Croatia. She studied Russian language and literature at the University of Zagreb and worked as a researcher at the Institute for Theory of Literature. Her literary career began in the 1970s, when she published her first collection of stories, “In the Jaws of Life,” which received critical acclaim and established her as a prominent voice of the new literary generation in Yugoslavia.

The Yugoslav Wars and Exile

The collapse of Yugoslavia in the 1990s and the ensuing wars had a profound impact on Ugrešić’s life and work. As a Croatian living in Serbia, she experienced first-hand the rise of nationalism and the demonization of the “other.” In 1991, she was expelled from the Association of Croatian Writers for her criticism of Croatia’s nationalist policies. Ugrešić moved to the Netherlands in 1993, where she lived in exile and continued to write about the war, displacement, and the loss of identity.

Ugrešić’s Literary Legacy

Ugrešić’s writing blur the lines between fiction, essay, and memoir, creating a unique voice that challenges conventional genres and boundaries. Her works, such as “The Museum of Unconditional Surrender” and “The Ministry of Pain,” explore the themes of displacement, identity, and memory, drawing from her own experience of exile and loss. In her essays, Ugrešić critiques nationalism, authoritarianism, and the politics of exclusion, calling for a more open, tolerant, and diverse society.

Ugrešić’s Impact on the Literary World

Throughout her career, Ugrešić’s work gained international recognition and numerous awards, such as the Neustadt International Prize for Literature, the Heinrich Mann Prize, and the Man Booker International Prize. She was a fellow of the Berlin Institute for Advanced Study, the American Academy in Berlin, and the University of Iowa. Her impact on the literary world extends beyond her own oeuvre, as she was also a translator of Russian and Dutch literature, introducing readers to the work of many authors who were not yet known in the English-speaking world.

Remembering Ugrešić’s Advocacy for Peace

Dubravka Ugrešić’s legacy as an advocate of peace, tolerance, and diversity continues to inspire readers and writers around the world. Her voice, which was silenced by nationalism and war, lives on in her writings and in the memories of those who knew her. As we mourn her passing, we must also celebrate her life and work, and continue to fight for the values she championed.

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Summary: Dubravka Ugrešić was a Croatian author and advocate of peace who passed away on September 26th, 2021. Her work focused on identity, exile, displacement, and memory, drawing from her own experience as a refugee from Yugoslavia during the 1990s. Ugrešić was a prominent voice of the new literary generation in Yugoslavia and gained international recognition and numerous awards throughout her career. She was an advocate of peace, tolerance, and diversity, and her legacy continues to inspire readers and writers around the world. #NEWS