Igor Štiks - A Castle in Romagna

“A Castle in Romagna is a two-pronged novel. A contemporary story of a Bosnian refugee who visits a manor house in Italy is interwoven with a story of Renaissance political intrigues. These historical flashbacks illuminate post-WWII Yugoslavia, particularly Tito’s break with Stalin and forced mass expulsion of Italians from the Croatian seacoast that was previously occupied by Mussolini. The legacy of fascist violence against Slavs is not forgotten but the communist politics of retribution is not endorsed either. A slim and elegant novel of tested loyalties and multiple identities.”