Renowned Croatian author Slavenka Drakulić dies at 77

Slavenka Drakulić, one of Croatia's most internationally recognized contemporary authors, has passed away at the age of 77. Her death was reported by Jutarnji list, shortly after the announcement of her new book, "Zašto nisam naučila kuhati" (Why I Didn't Learn to Cook), slated for June 2026.

Drakulić, born in Rijeka in 1949, was a prominent figure in the public discourse of former Yugoslavia, notably introducing feminist themes. Her extensive body of work includes "Smrtni grijesi feminizma," "Hologrami straha," "Kako smo preživjeli komunizam i čak se smijali," "Oni ne bi ni mrava zgazili," "Café Europa," and "Balkan Express." Her writings explored themes of the body, gender, communism, war, transition, and everyday life in Eastern Europe.

In the early 1990s, Drakulić, alongside other prominent female intellectuals, was targeted in a nationalist and misogynistic attack. Despite this, she continued her international career, establishing herself as a key voice of post-socialist Europe. Her works have been translated into numerous languages, with some published by the American publisher Penguin, underscoring her global reach and impact.