Celebration by Damir Karakaš is a stark, haunting novel that traces the life of Mijo, a soldier in the Nazi-allied Ustaša forces, as he hides in the woods after World War II, fearing retribution from the victorious Partisans. As he contemplates his eventual surrender, the narrative delves into his past to explore the experiences that shaped him, revealing how poverty, ignorance, and the brutal realities of war shaped his path to becoming a fascist. 

Karakaš masterfully contrasts the beauty of the natural world with the dark complexities of human existence, as he portrays a man caught between his past and the harsh consequences of his choices. Set against the rugged backdrop of rural Croatia, Celebration unfolds through flashbacks that capture rural life in the region of Lika, where Mijo’s experiences are intertwined with memories of hunger, loss, and fleeting moments of happiness. 

Damir Karakaš is an acclaimed Croatian author, born in 1967 in the remote mountainous region of Lika. He initially worked as a war reporter during the conflicts in Croatia, Bosnia, and Kosovo. From 2001 to 2007, he lived in France, where he supported himself as a street musician and performance artist. His writing often draws on autobiographical experiences, portraying the rural life of Lika and the cultural tensions between village and urban life. He has published novels, short story collections, and a travelog. Karakaš is an award-winning author whose novels have been translated into a dozen languages, brought to the stage and screen, with the film Celebration premiering at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival and winning the Golden Arena at the 2024 Pula Film Festival.

English edition published by arrangement with Two Lines Press.

First Croatian edition: Proslava © OceanMore, Zagreb, 2019.

Publication of this audiobook was co-funded by the Ministry of Culture and Media of the Republic of Croatia.