AFTERWARDS: Slovenian Writing 1945-1995
Few works can compare with this anthology of Slovenian literature: Ales Debeljak's Twilight of the Idols (LJ 11/1/94) addresses more the breakup of Yugoslavia than Slovenian literature, and two other recent anthologies, Contemporary Slovenian Literature in Translation (Trubar Fnd., 1998) and Panorama of Contemporary Slovene Literature (Slovene Pen Centre and Slovene Writers' Assn., 1980), are each much smaller than Afterwards. An introduction by Zawacki, a doctoral candidate at the University of Chicago, is followed by Debeljak's history of Slovenian literature and Andrei Inkret's characterization of Slovenia's literature. Poetry figures prominently: a special essay by Edward Kocbek is followed by about 70 poems. Other sections contain essays and fiction. Overall, this book exudes a gentle, civilized, almost Viennese sadness that contrasts with the often harsh subject matter. Recommended for middle and East European collections.-Bert Beynen, Des Moines Area Comm. Coll. Lib., Ankeny, IACopyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.