Initial Coordinates [Hardcover]

A magical realist novel in verse exploring family history and resilience in war-torn Croatia.

Initial Coordinatesmeditates on Monika Hercegs childhood memories in a small rural village near Petrinja as war breaks out in the 1990s. This unforgettable work mimics oral traditions, reflecting the people whose lives shaped Hercegs voice. Explore themes of financial hardship, domestic violence, and the decline of village life, all rooted in the resilience of natures rhythms.

Drawing directly on Croatian mythology, this collection offers a bold perspective on family sagas and historical events. Perfect for readers interested in European literature, translated poetry, and magical realism. Discover the power of verse in capturing the essence of a family's journey through adversity.

“The first and the last book of the new Croatian poetry.”—Miljenko Jergovic, author ofKinandMama Leone
 "In Monika Herceg’sInitial Coordinates, a deeply uncanny family history unfolds . . . Herceg’s compact poems mix old wives’ tales with personal lore, reanimating these stories . . .Initial Coordinatestirelessly weaves these reversals of birth and death until their distinction dissolves." —Layla Benitez-James,Poetry Foundation"[Herceg's] poems resonate on their own terms . . . outside of time, like the best enduring art." —Cory Oldweiler,Los Angeles Review of BooksMarina Veverecis a student of literary translation at the University of Zadar, Croatia. Her translations have appeared or are forthcoming inDenver Quarterly, Exchanges, Poetry International Web, Asymptote, Verseville, Harvard Review, andWords Without Borders.

Monika Herceg, born in 1990, is the author of three poetry collections, including the widely acclaimedPocetne koordinate (Initial Coordinates, SKUD Ivan Goran Kovacic, 20lC,