Knjiga priča

The Book of Stories by Igor Grbić is a sophisticated and ambitious collection of short stories that can be read as a book that talks about storytelling. It consists of twenty-three unusual, stylistically diverse stories grouped into five units named after the parts of the day (Morning, Day, Noon, Evening, Night).

Grbić skillfully reconstructs the different ways in which people have told stories throughout history: from oral storytelling and myths, through fairy tales and legends, to classically structured realistic stories. The author plays with narrative techniques, genres and voices, creating a rich, layered text full of intertextuality, humor and deep reflections on the nature of storytelling and the human need for stories.

The book is simultaneously entertaining, intellectual and poetic. Grbić's style is precise, rich and fluid, and the stories range from fantastic and mythological motifs to everyday situations in which deeper existential themes are revealed. As a university professor of literature, Grbić demonstrates an exceptional knowledge of tradition, but never uses it mechanically – everything serves a living, contemporary prose.

This collection has solidified Grbić's reputation as one of the most inventive Croatian prose writers of today. Ideal for lovers of quality short prose, more experimental forms, and those who enjoy literature that reflects on itself.