Vinko Vrbanić
Vinko Vrbanić (born 12 May 1951) is a Croatian writer who lives in Vinkovci, Croatia. He is best known for his published short stories, novellas "Furmani" ("Carters") and "Sokolov let" ("Flight of the Falcon"), and coming-of-age novel "Glasovi u šumi" ("Voices in the Forest"). He graduated from the School of Agriculture in Požega, worked in construction, and fought in the Croatian War of Independence. Genre. Novellas "Furmani [Carters]" and "Sokolov let [Flight of the Falcon]" are collections of diverse tales connected by loose narratives about the tragic lives of common folk. Whereas, the coming-of-age  novel "Glasovi u šumi [Voices in the Forest]" traces the life of a mischievous boy growing up in a Croatian village during times of socio-political upheaval. “At last, we received a storyteller who stepped away from traditional themes and turned towards the urban setting, telling stories that avoid romantic or melodramatic content,” says Zlatko Virc in "Vinkovacki list [Vinkovci Newspaper]". Themes. The short stories in "Sokolov let [Flight of the Falcon]" trace the struggles and destinies of the ordinary people caught between the great military powers during the decline of the Ottoman Empire. In "Furmani [Carters]", the author examines  fate in short stories about people from the bottom of the social ladder who turn to alcohol as a way to cope with their broken lives. His coming-of-age novel "Glasovi u šumi [Voices in the Forest]" captures the persistent struggle for a better life and brutality of those in power. Style. Vrbanić writes short, inter-connected narratives with a discernible beginning, climax, and resolution encapsulated within self-contained chapters that demonstrate the author's skill as storyteller from an oral tradition.