Protimbe

by Slobodan Novak

Protimbe, ponajbolje djelo suvremene hrvatske autobiografske proze, dopunjena je i prerađena inačica Digresija, knjige razgovora s Jelenom Hekman. Digresije su nakon objavljivanja (2001) izazvale neviđeni odjek na hrvatskoj književnoj i kulturnoj sceni, kako zbog autorova povratka u javni život nakon dvadesetogodišnje književne, društvene i medijske izolacije, tako i zbog autorova majstorskog umijeća da u nizu reminiscencija na vlastiti život i svjetonazor, o sebi i drugima progovori polemički i u kontkstu općih političkih, književnih i umjetničkih gibanja u socijalističkoj Jugoslaviji i nezavisnoj i samostalnoj Hrvatskoj. Stoga su su već mnogi kritičari upozorili na dominantnu crtu Protimbi, na autorovu »strategiju obračunavanja« sa samim sobom, komunizmom, Brozom, Bakarićem, Gotovcem, velikosrpstvom, Haškim sudom... Pa iako autor ostrašćeno secira prošlost pojedinca i društva na ovim prostorima, ljubiteljima hrvatske književnosti u pamćenju će ostati ponajprije intimna komponenta Novakovih Protimbi, kao i piščevi zapisi o naravi književnosti, o književnim uzorima i književnim prilikama.

578 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Ante Slobodan Novak was a Croatian writer and novelist. He is best known for his novel "Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh" (1968), often listed as one of the best Croatian novels of the 20th century.

Novak was born in Split on 3 November 1924 to Duje and Marija (née Smoje) Novak. He was baptized in the local church as Ante Slobodan Novak. He finished elementary school in Rab, attended the Classical gymnasium in Split, then graduated in Sušak. During World War II he joined the Yugoslav Partisans.

He then attended the University of Zagreb and earned a degree in Croatian and Yugoslav literature in 1953. He worked as an instructor, proofreader, and playwright for the Croatian National Theatre in Split. Later he worked as a journalist and an editor in various publishing houses. In 1983 he became a member of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts.