Julijana Matanović is a Croatian writer, essayist and university professor born on April 6, 1959 in Gradačac (BiH). It is best known for its collection of stories Why did I lie to you (1997), a debutante that saw 15 editions and won a literary award Joseph and Ivan Kozarac. In his novels and narratives, he often combines autobiographical elements with intertextual and metafictional procedures. He does this in a very creative way – for example, in a novel Who’s afraid of the character yet? (2008) Matanović frees characters from famous Croatian stories and puts them in dialogue with contemporary social issues. She received numerous awards for her literary work – two Kiklop awards (2009 and 2011) and has been a member of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts since 2014.
Early life and education
Julijana Matanović spent her childhood in BiH and Croatia. She was born in a family of book lovers – in an interview she points out that her father sent her books as a gift from a young age, which encouraged her love for reading. She moved to Croatia with her parents in 1962 and grew up in Slavonia (Đurđenovac, Našice). She finished elementary school in Đurđenovac, and high school in Našice. She studied Yugoslav languages and literature at the Faculty of Pedagogy in Osijek, where she graduated in 1982. She continued her postgraduate studies at the Faculty of Philosophy in Zagreb: she received her master’s degree in 1989 (with the topic of Baroque poet) and received her doctorate in 1998 with a work on the Croatian historical novel of the 20th century. During her career, she taught at the Faculty of Philosophy in Zagreb (Department of Croatian Studies), where until 2018 she was an associate professor of recent Croatian literature.
Literary career and works
Matanović presented herself to the literary audience with her debut collection of stories Why did I lie to you (1997), which immediately became a bestseller. This work was followed by a collection of stories Note about the writer (2000). This was followed by novels and collections of stories in which her main motive is often writing in itself and relationships within the family. For example, a novel It’s like we’re father and daughter (2003) is a series of essays and feuilletons in which the author connects her own experience and literature. Her novel is also known Who’s afraid of the character yet? (2008), in which characters from famous Croatian novels emerge from their stories and comment on social circumstances.
The most important editions of Julijana Matanović are:
- Why did I lie to you (1997) – Collection of stories, 15 editions, awards Kozarac
- Note about the writer (2000) – novel (philosophical love)
- Who’s afraid of the character yet? (2008) – a novel with intertextual procedures
- Book of women, men, cities and partings (2009) – a collection of stories, awards Cyclops 2009
- They think we are small (2010) – Youth novel (in collaboration with Anka Dorić), award Cyclops 2011.
- In the beginning and at the end there was coffee (2014) – collection of stories, awards Ksaver Šandor Gjalski 2014.
In addition to romanticized prose, Matanović is the author of numerous essays, feuilletons and scientific papers (as many as four books on the historical novel and studies on the Baroque). Her literary style is dynamic and introspective, and in stories she often presents her own experiences and connects her interlocutors with personal warmth and wit
Prizes and awards
Matanović has been awarded multiple times for literary and scientific work. Her biggest recognitions are:
- “Josip and Ivan Kozarac” award – was won in 1997 (for Why did I lie to you) and in 2014
- Cyclops prize – awarded in 2009 for Book of women, men, cities and partings and 2011 for They think we are small (book for children/younger readers).
- Ksaver Šandor Gjalski Award – She received it in 2014 for a collection of stories In the beginning and at the end there was coffee.
- other recognition -there are rewards Julije Benešić (2004, for critical work), Fr. Martin Nedić (2014), City of Zagreb (2014) and others.
Julijana Matanović’s collections and novels have been translated into several languages (Slovenian, German, Slovak, etc.), thus gaining international visibility. Critics especially emphasize its authenticity and ability to combine erudition with the warmth of real stories.
Conclusion
Today, Julijana Matanović is one of the recognizable voices of contemporary Croatian literature – she combines her professorial position on books with the sensibility of an experienced storyteller. For readers, this means that each of her works brings a deeper view of the very nature of writing. If you are interested in contemporary literature told “inside”, we recommend that you look for her collections of stories and novels (see the library or bookstore). Her approach and topics often inspire and teach – and this is a strong invitation to take a look at Julijana Matanović’s books.
Sources: We supported biographical and literary information about Julijana Matanović with data from the official literary portal and biographical sources. These materials are used for credible information about the author, her life and works.