The Balkan Express

Original edition:

W. W. Norton, New York, 1993

Through short but deeply felt essays on everything from house paint and high-heeled shoes to point-blank murder, Slavenka Drakulić tells the story of the Balkan crisis as people are living it. This is firsthand war reporting without body counts or strategic analyses. The author describes the ordinary people’s response to this situation, pointing a finger at how the conflict destroys everyday lives, disrupts relationships and turns close friends into bitter enemies. Focused on individual lives, the author reveals the true complexity of the crisis and the enormity of the task of reconciliation.

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Essays & Reviews About Book

BALKAN EXPRESS

W. W. Norton, New York, 1993

• Briemberg, Elizabeth (1993). Horrors from the heart of the Balkan war. Review, THE VANCOUVER SUN, October 9
• Mitrovich, George (1993). Serbian-Americans should condemn Nazi-style savagery. Review, THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, September 2, p. A23
• Goodrich, Chris (1993). Recent non-fiction. Review, THE JERUSALEM POST MAGAZINE, September 10, p. 27
• Tismaneanu, Vladimir (1993). Croat writer measures, in human terms, the price of nationalism. Review, THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, September 5, p. K5
• Mitrovich, George (1993). Why the Serbian-American silence?. Commentary, LOS ANGELES TIMES, August 25, p. B7
• Ellis, David (1993). The Balkan Express: Fragments from the other side of the war. Review, PEOPLE, August 9
• Ryan, Richard (1993). Tangled ethnic legacies in the Balkans. Review, THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR, July 21, p. 13
• Gordon, Britta (1993). Closed borders. Review, WILLAMETTE NEWS, July 1-7, p. 33
• Alcalay, Ammiel (1993). Life, Death, and History in ex-Yugoslavia. Review, VOICE, June 22, p. 84
• Kalman Naves, Elaine (1993). Mapping the inner landscape of an obscene war. Review, THE TORONTO STAR, June 19
• Mitchell, Emily (1993). Journey to hell. Review, TIME, June 14, p. 70
• Fry, Donn (1993). Croatian writer sees her place in a tragic mosaic. Review, THE SEATTLE TIMES, June 7
• Rubin, Elizabeth (1993). Balkan Expressions. Review, FORWARD, June 11
• Selis, Sara (1993). Croatian writer stresses human face of conflict. Review, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH, June 3, p. 2A
• Vlahovich, Stjepan E. (1993). "Balkan" tells inner tales of terror. Review, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH, May 30
• Walker, Rob (1993). Conflict close to home strikes Croat journalist. Review, DALLAS MORNING NEWS, May 30
• Prose, Francine (1993). Notes from the blood bath. Review, THE NEW YORK TIMES, May 23, p. 9. Available at: https://www.nytimes.com/1993/05/23/books/notes-from-the-blood-bath.html
• Borden, Anthony (1993). We are the war. Review, THE NATION, May 17, p. 672
• Fund, John H. (1993). Key to a region's torment. Review, THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, May
• Lehmann-Haupt, Christopher (1993). Beyond Facts to the Realities of War. Review, THE NEW YORK TIMES, May 17, p.C13. Available at: https://www.nytimes.com/1993/05/17/books/books-of-the-times- beyond-facts-to-the-realities-of-war.html
• (1993). Balkan Express: Fragments from the other side of the war. Review, PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, March 26, p. 40
• McCabe, Carol (1993). Probing the Balkan wreckage. Review, THE PROVIDENCE SUNDAY JOURNAL, April 7, p. E9
• (1993). Drakulic, Slavenka: The Balkan Express. Review, KIRKUS REVIEWS, April 1
• Schoolman, Martha (1993). Drakulic, Slavenka: Balkan Express. Review, BOOKLIST, January 1

BALKAN EXPRESS (1995), a benefit performance, adapted for the stage by Mima Vulovic and Cynthia Grant, THE ARTS CLUB THEATRE, Sunday, June 1

• Hughes Jones, Lis (1995). Women, theatre and war. Review, MAGDALENA No. 16, March
• Kirchhoff, H. J. (1995). A woman's place in the chaos of war. Review, THE GLOBE AND MAIL, March 11

STERBEN IN KROATIEN, Rowohlt Taschenbuch Verlag, Rororo aktuell, Hamburg, 1992

• Murray Despalatović, Elinor (1994). Review: Sterben in Kroatien: Vom Krieg Mitten in Europa. by Slavenka Drakulić. SLAVIC REVIEW, Vol. 53, No. 3 (Autumn), pp. 927-928
• Orssich, Alexander (1993). Beobachtungen ü ber den Krieg: Sterben in Kroatien. Review, HINTERGRUND, May 25
• Diederich, Alex (1993). Krieg in Europa - eine Literaturauswahl. Review, GRENGE-SPOUN No. 170, Luxembourg, May 7, p. 10
• Howeg, Stephan-Th. (1993). Alles verlieren. Review, WOCHEN ZEITUNG No. 16, April 23
• Küchler, Sabine (1993). Wo die Nachrichten aufhören, beginnt der Krieg. Review, FRANKFURTER RUNDSCHAU, April 3
• Lucht, Herbert (1993). Mörderischer Speigel von Hass und Gewalt. Review, PASSAUER NEUE PRESSE, March 31
• (1993). Sterben in Kroatien. Review, Radio & TV OBSERVER, March 21, 9.05 p.m.
• Knetsch, Anna-Luise (1993). Slavenka Drakulic: Sterben in Kroatien. Review, Radio SWF "Buchzeit-das politische Buch", March 12, 2.30 p.m. - 3 p.m.
• Drakulic, Slavenka (1992). Ihr tötet uns, wir töten euch. Excerpt, DIE ZEIT No. 49, November, p. 58-72
• Wintersteiner, Werner (1992). Das aktuelle Buch: Wie sich der Krieg in das Leben einschleicht. Review, DER STANDARD, February 12
• (1992). Was ist Krieg?. Review, FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE ZEITUNG, December 2
• , V. (1992). Jugoslawien - Kleine Literaturauswahl. Review, DIE ZEIT No. 48, November 20
• Helwerth, Ulrike (1992). Krieg hat ein weibliches Gesicht. Review, DIE TAGESZEITUNG, November 7
• Auffermann, Verena (1992). Was ist Krieg?. Review, BASLER ZEITUNG, October 30
• , S. (1992). Sterben in Kroatien. Review, DIE ZEIT No. 44, October 23

BALKAN EXPRESS

Hutchinson, London, 1993

• Litt, Toby (1993). Runaway train. Review, LITERARY REVIEW, February
• Evans, Grace, Norden, Barbara & Rogers, Barbara (1993). A feast of non-fiction. Review, EVERYWOMAN, June, p. 12
• Harris, Paul (1993). A very uncivil war. Review, SCOTLAND ON SUNDAY, April 29
• Richards, Susan (1993). When we turn into them and us. Review, THE OBSERVER, March 21
• (1993). Feminist Book Festival Top 20. THE BOOKSELLER, March 26
• Rees, Jasper (1993). Nobody is laughing. Review, DAILY TELEGRAPH, March 6
• Carmichael, Cathie (1993). 'Other' courage. Review, TRIBUNE, February 19
• Woods, Ljubima (1993). Balkan Express. Review, CITY LIMITS, February 11
• O'Kelly Sebastian (1993). View from the middle ground. Review, THE EUROPEAN, February 11
• Hilton, Isabel (1993). What an unlovely war. Review, THE INDEPENDENT, February 1. Available at: https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/book-review-what-an-unlovely-war-balkan-express-slavenka- drakulic-tr-maja-soljan-hutchinson-899-1470193.html
• Mitchinson, Amanda (1993). Into the dark. Review, THE INDEPENDENT, January 29

BALKAN EXPRESS

Rotis, Maribor, 1993

• Resnik, Ljiljana (1993). Ko pisateljica najde prave besede. Review

BALKAN EXPRESS

Harper Perennial, New York, 1994

• Lyman, Randall (1994). The Balkan Express. Review, PROGNOSIS WEEKLY, August 4-10, p. 14

BALKAN EXPRESS

Editions Mentha, Paris, 1992

• Dambrat, Pierre (1993). Slavenka Drakulic écrivan croate. Interview, April/May
• Jacob, Alain (1993). La ou l'information s arete. Review, LE MONDE, February 19
• Tizon, Jean-Philippe Balkan Express: Chronique de la Yougoslavie en guerre. Review, L'ECHO DU CENTRE

BALKAN-EXPRESS. Chroniques de la Yougoslavie en guerre. Theatrical performance. (October 6th 1993; April 28th 1998), adapted by Jean Delval. LE THEATRE DES RUES (STREET THEATRE), Rue du Cerisier à Cuesmes.

BALKAN EXPRESS

Ordfronts, Stockholm, 1993

• Areskog, Mattias (1999). Känns mer som krigspornografi. Review, NORRKÖPINGS TIDNINGAR, September 1
• Jönsson, Per (1995). Norstedts erövrar Israel. Review, DAGENS NYHETER, September 28
• Melin, Annika (1995). Vi har answar för varandra. Review, VÄSTERBOTTENS-KURIREN, May 9, p. 7
• Hellgren, Anna (1995). Kroatisk författarinna talade om roten till kriget. Review, VÄSTERBOTTENS FOLKBLAD, May 9, p. 4
• Arnborg, Beata (1994). Ordet blir maktlöst. Review, SVENSKA DAGBLADET, March 12
• Pär Olofsson, Rune (1994). Balkan-kriget obegripligt. Review, DALA-DEMOKRATEN, November 14
• Håkansson, Gunilla (1994). Kvinor bakom järnridån. Review, ÖSTRA SMALAND, November 9
• Drakulic, Slavenka (1993). På Balkan Express mot Zagreb, 1991. Excerpt, ORDFRONT MAGASIN No. 5, p. 2
• Persson, Lena (1993). Radio-krönikan: Hålla tiden en svensk besatthet. DAGENS NYHETER, November 14, p. B13
• Poellinger, Clemens (1993). En liter blod för konstens skull. Review, SVENSKA DAGBLADET, November 23
• Kronholm, Jan (1993). Framtiden tillsvidare upphävd. Review, JAKOBSTADS TIDNING, September 16
• Gellerfelt, Mats (1993). Det 'lilla' livet i kriget. Review, SVENSKA DAGBLADET, September 11
• Albin Abrahamson, Kjell (1993). Draculafärd till krigets Jugoslavien. Review, AFTONBLADET, September 11 Eklund, Jan (1993). Kriget hitom fronten. Review, DAGENS NYHETER, September 11, p. B2
• Nordensen, Magdalena (1993). Personligt och ärligt om kriget. Review, VÄSTERBOTTENS-KURIREN; JÖNKÖPINGS-POSTEN/SMALLANDS ALLEHAND, KATRINEHOLMS-KURIREN, September
• Jönsson, Per (1993). Böckerna om Balkan. Review, DAGENS NYHETER, April 24

BALKAN EXPRESS

theatrical performance, 1994

• (1994). „Balkan Express“ som teater. Review, DAGENS NYHETER, November 25
• Gentele, Jeanette (1994). Ett brev om krigets fasor. Review, SVENSKA DAGBLADET, November 23, p. 45
• Alagic, Zoran (1994). „Nationalism en sjukdom som alltid finns hos oss“. Interview, HELSINGBORGS DAGBLAD; SUNDSVALLS TIDNING, November 20

BALKAN EXPRESS

De Prom, Baarn, 1993

• Sambre, Peirre (1993). Portret - Slavenka Drakulic: Een marmeren vrouw in de verscheurde Balkan. Article, STYLE, November, p. 20-24
• (1993). De zijlijn van de oorlog. Review, KNACK, September 1, p. 93
• Bentz van den Berg, Adinda (1993). Notities uit de Balkanoorlog. Review, VROUWEN, July, p. 13
• van Esterik, Chris (1993). Als de doden geen naam meer hebben. Review, NRC HANDELSBLAD, May 21
• Min, Eric (1993). Wij zijn de oorlog. Review, DE MORGEN, May 14
• de Moor, Piet (1993). We hebben onze vrijheid verkwanseld voor Italiaanse schoenen. Review, VRIJ NEDERLAND, May 1, p. 82
• Huysmans, Linda (1993). Wij en de anderen. Review, SURPLUS, No. 3, May, p. 12
• Jacobus, Simone (1993). Hoe oorlog de mens langzaam van bienen aantast. Review, HUMANIST, April, p. 17
• Bleich, Anet (1993). Hoe de oorlog langzaam iedereen aantast. Review, DE VOLKSRANT, February 20, p. 27
• Vaessen, Dorine (1993). Een reis naar de betekenis van de oorlog. Review, ARGUS, February

BALKAN EXPRESS

Il Saggiatore, Milano, 1993

• Mori, Anna Maria (1995). Troppe guerre? Ditelo con un libro. Review, LA REPUBBLICA, July 25
• Avirovic, Ljiljana (1993). Le letterature dell'ex Jugoslavia. Review, IL GAZZETTINO, August 27
• Ferrari, Silvio (1993). C'era un treno che attraversava i Balcani. Review, IL SECOLO XIX, August 11
• Conti, Marco (1993). Citta fatte di carta. Review, ECO DI BIELLA No. 61, August 2
• Cantarutti, Ludovica (1993). Maurensig rivelazione dell'anno. Review, IL GAZZETTINO, July 17
• Lombezzi, Mimmo (1993). Ecco come persone normali si trasformano in mostri. Interview, IL GIORNALE, May 17
• Gonzaga, Roberto (1993). Uno straziante addio alla pace. Review, IL GIORNALE DI BRESCIA, August 1
• Ridolfi, Mario (1993). Jugoslavia, cronache dal tempo perduto. Review, L'UNIONE SARDA, August 10, p. 7
• Ignatieff, Michael (1993). La tragedia dei Balcani. Review, LA RIVISTA DEI LIBRI No. 7/8, July/August
• Romano, Massimo (1993). Un Paese in guerra. Review, IL NOSTRO TEMPO No. 29, July 25
• Freschi, Chiara (1993). L'altra faccia della guerra. Review, NOI DONNE No. 6, June
• Stolfi, Mimmo (1993). Quando l'orrore si fa normalita. Review, IL SABATO, June 19
• Lombezzi, Mimmo (1993). La guerra siamo noi. Review, LINEA D'OMBRA, No. 84, July/August
• Bongiorno, Cristina (1993). Orrori di una guerra incestuosa. Review, IL GIORNALE, June 20
• Campagnano, Lidia (1993). La morte della speranza. Review, L'INDICE DEI LIBRI DEL MESE No. 6, June
• Riolo, Giorgio & Rosa, Stefano Stefanutto (1993). Slavenka Drakulic: Balkan Express. Review, LIBERAZIONE, June 10
• (1993). Tra cronaca e letteratura. Review, GRAZIA, June 9, p. 53
• Sinatti, Piero (1993). Sul treno dell'odio quotidiano. Review, IL SOLE 24 ORE, May 30
• Romano, Massimo (1993). Il Mediterraneo al tavolo. Review, IL GIORNALE, May 25, p. 5
• Frescobaldi, Dino (1993). Io croata, dico a voi europei. Interview, LA REPUBLICA, May 18
• Drakulić, Slavenka (1993). Quanda la guerra sara finita come saremo diventate?. Excerpt, NOI DONNE, May, p. 49
• Orsi, Alessandra (1993). Il muro delle nazionalita. Review, IL MANIFESTO, May 13, p. 13
• Altichieri, Alessio (1993). Croazia, le lingue tagliate dalla follia. Review, CORRIERE DELLA SERA, May 10

BALKAN EXPRESSEN

Aventura, Oslo, 1994

• Bentzrund, Inger (1994). Balkan-krig med cappuccino. Review, DAGBLADET, April 8, p. 9

BALKAN EXPRESS

Kääntöpiiri Oy, Helsinki, 1994

• Forsblom, Sonja & Sjöblom, Ylva (1995). Kirja joka kaikkien pitäisi lukea. HELSINGIN SANOMAT, February 12
• Hemming, Gunilla (1994). Kriget kom till henne. Review, HUFVUDSTADSTBLADET, December 29
• Pilhjerta, Ritva-Liisa (1994). Kun ihmiset muuttuvat hirviöiksi. Review, HELSINGIN SANOMAT, November 27
• Kalliokoski, Maria (1994). Balkanin sodan näkymätön puoli. Review, KAINUUN SANOMAT, November 4
• Jannula, Mika (1994). Sodan arkipäivää inhimillistä tuskaa. Review, TURUN SANOMAT, August 7
• Puhakka, Sirpa (1994). Arjen sota Balkanilla. Review, YDIN, June 29
• Lappalainen, Marja-Liisa (1994). Tarvitseeko pakolainen tanssikenkiä?. REview, ILTALEHTI, May 19
• Pajunen, Pirjo (1994). "On vain me". Review, KANSAN UUTISET
• Kirkas, Tiina (1994). Döden blir enkel men livet ett helvete. Review, FOLKTIDNINGEN, September 8
• Agrell, Wilhelm (1994). Sodan kasvot kuvastimessa. Review, DEMARI

STERBEN IN KROATIEN

Theatre performance, Theater TKO/Theater der Keller, Köln (directed by Nada Kokotivić), 2016

• Soliz, Tamara (2017). Krieg kann nie ein Mittel sein. Interview with Nada Kokotović, MEINE SÜDSTADT, April 17. Available at: https://www.meinesuedstadt.de/krieg-kann-nie-ein-mittel-sein/
• Linden, Thomas (2016) Das Hasspredigern zornig entgegen getreten. Review, KÖLNISCHE RUNDSCHAU, December 1st.
• (2016) Düstere Szenen aus dem jugoslawischen Bürgerkrieg. Review, KÖLN NACHRICHTEN, November 14th. Available at: http://koeln-nachrichten.de/kultur/duestere-szenen-aus-dem- jugoslawischen-buergerkrieg/
• Rabrenović, Boris (2016) 'Sterben in Kroatien' – nova predstava Nade Kokotović. Interview, WDR. November 10th, Available at: http://www1.wdr.de/radio/funkhauseuropa/programm/sendungen/radio- forum/kultur/sterben-in-kroatien-100.html