Renowned Croatian Writer Vedrana Rudan Dies at 77

Vedrana Rudan, a prominent Croatian writer, journalist, and columnist, has passed away at the age of 77 following a prolonged and difficult illness. The news of her death was shared on her official Facebook page, accompanied by a poignant message stating she had "gone to an area without signal." Dnevnik.hr confirmed the information through sources close to Rudan. Rudan, born in Opatija on October 29, 1949, was recognized as one of the most widely read and controversial contemporary Croatian writers. She was celebrated for her direct and provocative writing style, which often included sharp criticism of societal phenomena, politicians, and those in power. For over two decades, Rudan worked as a journalist for various media outlets, including Nacional and Feral Tribune, and also contributed to radio. After leaving journalism, she dedicated herself to literature. Her books have been translated into multiple languages, and some of her works have been adapted for theater in regional countries. Rudan's writing explored themes such as feminism, domestic violence, social hypocrisy, marital relationships, aging, nationalism, and political elites. She achieved widespread popularity with her debut novel, "Uho, grlo, nož" (Ear, Throat, Knife), published in 2002. Other notable works include "Ljubav na poslednji pogled" (Love at Last Sight), "Ja, nevernica" (I, the Unfaithful), and "Doživotna robija" (Life Sentence). For years, she also maintained a blog titled "Kako umrijeti bez stresa" (How to Die Without Stress), where she commented on current events, her personal life, and topics that engaged her. Rudan spoke openly about difficult personal experiences, including those related to marriage and the position of women, which influenced the themes in her books. In April 2024, she was diagnosed with a rare form of bile duct cancer. Despite undergoing surgery in May 2024, she continued to write and speak publicly about her illness, treatment, fears, and the challenges faced by cancer patients. She was also involved in a legal dispute concerning the costs of diagnostic procedures related to her treatment, a case she lost shortly before her death.

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You want me to cry on this show because I am dying. I want to say that there are a lot of people who love me and I love them. And that I am immortal and let my death be understood as a departure to an area without signal.