The Culture of Lies: Antipolitical Essays (Post-Communist Cultural Studies)
This is a collection of cynical but uniformly unbiased "antipolitical essays" portraying the reality of Communist and post-Communist Yugoslavia. Ugresic's (Have a Nice Day, LJ 3/1/95) intent is not to clarify the politics behind the fall of Yugoslavia but to question the definition of "Yugoslav identity" and critique its shattered culture. She firmly argues that, despite the fall of the Communist regime, the lives of former Yugoslavs in their new "independent homelands" haven't really changedAthey are still based on lies, intolerance, sexism, and political brainwashing. These essays, many of which have previously appeared in European newspapers and periodicals, will enrage and sadden you and then fill you with disgust toward narrow-minded nationalism. Ugresic defends her viewpoint skillfully and confidently, refusing to label herself with a "post-Yugoslav" nationality. After being vilified for her provocative writing, she left her native Croatia in 1993 and now lives in exile in Amsterdam. Highly recommended.AMirela Roncevic, "Library Journal"Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.