Julijana Matanović (sometimes misspelled Jilian) She was born 6. April 1959. in Gradačac in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Of May 1962. She lives in Croatia, where she spent her childhood in the Slavonian towns of Đurđenovac and Našice. Her parents divorced, so for a while she lived with her grandparents in the village of Turić, and later with her aunt Julijana in Đurđenovac. She learned responsibilities and work there. Father Ilija encouraged her love for reading by sending books by mail, and Juliana already wrote and won prizes in elementary school.
Education
She finished elementary school in Đurđenovac, and high school in Našice. She enrolled in the study of Yugoslav languages and literature at the Faculty of Pedagogy in Osijek, where she graduated in 1982. In the same autumn, she was employed as an assistant at the Department of Yugoslav Literatures of the same faculty. She completed her postgraduate studies at the Faculty of Philosophy in Zagreb; She received her master’s degree in 1989 with the topic on Đurđević’s “Sighs of the Mandalien Penitent”, and her doctorate in 1998 with the topic “Croatian historical novel of the 20th century”.
Academic and literary career
University career
On September 1, 1993, Matanović became an employee of the Faculty of Philosophy of the University of Zagreb, where she taught at the Department of Recent Croatian Literature. Since 2014, she has been a member of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts (HAZU). In 2018, as an associate professor, she retired early and moved to Osijek with her daughter Magdalena and her husband Pavlo Pavličić. She continues to deal with literary criticism, editorial and editing of literary magazines; She posted more than 300 scientific texts, criticism, discussions and essays.
literary work and featured works
She appeared on the literary scene in 1997 with a collection of short stories “Why did I lie to you”, which saw more than 15 editions and the Josip and Ivan Kozarac award. This was followed by novels and collections such as:
- “Note on the writer” (2000) – an unloving novel.
- “It’s like we’re father and daughter” (2003) – collection of essays.
- “Laura is not just an anecdote” (2005) – book of lyric essays.
- “Who’s afraid of the character yet” (2008) – an intertextual novel that frees the characters of Croatian literature from their sources.
- “Book of women, men, cities and partings” (2009) – Awarded Cyclops for the best prose work of the year.
- “Cic and silk” (2011) – a selection of short stories.
- “Only mother and daughter” (2012) – a collection of stories about the family.
- “Christmas Quest” (2012).
- “And in the beginning and at the end there was coffee” (2014) – A collection of stories awarded with the Ksaver Šandor Gjalski Award and a number of other awards.
- Books for children and young people: “They think we are small” (2010), “Spoken-done” (2015), “Tying of sneakers with one unknown” (2017).
In addition to fiction, the author has published several professional books on literary theory and history, including “Baroque from modernity” (1992) and “Ivan Gundulić” (1993). She wrote a book with her colleagues “Four Dimensions of Doubt” (1988), and with Reine-Marguerite Bayle Roman “Fat step” (2003). Her professional book “Krsto and Lucian” (2003) covers a historical novel.
Prizes and awards
Julijana Matanović is the winner of numerous awards for literature. The book “Why did I lie to you” was awarded the Josip and Ivan Kozarac award, and the novel “The Book of Women, Men, Cities and Parts” won the award Cyclops (2009). The novel for young people “They think we are small” received the Anto Gardaš award and the Little Prince award and the Pearl Wisdom Award of the European Association for the Prevention of Cervical Cancer. The collection “I was coffee at the beginning and at the end” won awards Ksaver Šandor Gjalski, Josip and Ivan Kozarac, Fr. Martin Nedić and the City of Zagreb Award. On the official website, the author lists other awards, including “Julije Benešić” (2003), “Cyclops” (2009, 2011) and the Josip and Ivan Kozarac Award 2014.
private life
family relationships
Julijana Matanović was married to a television presenter Sasha Kopljar, but they divorced. Outside of marriage, she had a daughter Magdalena (born April 15, 2002), whose father is a late politician Ivo Živković. Since 2015, he has been in a romantic relationship, and since 2017, he has been married to a Croatian writer and academician Pavlo Pavličić; The couple moved to Osijek after she retired.
retirement and finance
Julijana Matanović had 35 years of service and worked in parallel with several jobs before she retired in 2018. In a 2021 interview, she pointed out that the amount of her pension is about 4,200 Kuna and that he believes that this amount is modest considering her many years of work.
Scandal with HAZU (2024)
at the end of summer 2024. Julijana Matanović received a letter from the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts informing her that she was no longer a member of HAZU. In a post on social networks, she stated that she “stop being a member of an associate” because, as stated, she did not progress to regular membership, although, according to her, the administration and the presidency did not allow her progress due to her marriage to academician Pavlo Pavličić. The media reported that the legal acts of HAZU do not contain a provision that would justify the expulsion, while in other articles the rules were stated that spouses cannot be members of the same class. Glas Slavonije reported her statement that the exclusion was explained by the claim that “she did not progress” and that the Presidency rejected the class proposal for literature because she is the wife of an academic.
attendance on social networks
Although she resisted social networks for a long time, Julijana Matanović opened at the beginning of February 2018 official page on facebook, which she wanted to continue talking about literature and everyday topics. On his profiles, he publishes photos from promotions, quotes from books and reflections on social topics. Other networks like Twitter and Instagram use sporadically.
public interest and searches
Julijana Matanović is one of the most widely read contemporary Croatian writers. The public interest in her work is driven by:
- autobiographical elements In her novels, which provide readers with an intimate insight into female destinies and family relationships.
- numerous editions of her works and presence in school readings.
- By participating in the media – Interviews on literature, the status of women in society and pensioner challenges.
- Controversy over HAZU (2024), which opened a discussion on the admissions procedures and position of women in academic institutions.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How old is Julijana Matanović?
She was born on April 6, 1959, which means she will be 66 years old in January 2026.
Where does it come from?
He is originally from Gradačac in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and has lived in Croatia since 1962, mostly in Slavonia.
Why is she famous?
She is known as one of the most widely read Croatian authors; she writes prose, essays, and novels for children, and is also a university professor and literary critic. Her collection “Why I Lied to You” (1997) became a bestseller.
Why was she expelled from HAZU?
In 2024, the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts sent her a letter stating that she was no longer an associate member because she had not been promoted to full membership. Matanović claims that the Board did not allow her to advance due to her marriage to academician Pavlo Pavličić.
How many children does he have?
He has a daughter, Magdalena, born in 2002.
Who is her husband?
Since 2017, she has been married to the distinguished writer and academician Pavlo Pavličić. She was previously married to presenter Saša Kopljar.
Conclusion
Julijana Matanović is a writer who marked contemporary Croatian literature. With her novels, essays and stories, which often win awards, she won over readers of all generations and contributed to Croatian culture. In her private life, she experienced numerous trials – from single motherhood to controversy with HAZU – but she remained faithful to the literature and her audience. Considering the continuous interest of the audience and the new projects it launches, it is recommended to follow its official profiles and website for the latest news about its work.