Tab Article

Ratings: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
Genre: Literary Fiction, European Literature, Croatian Literature, Historical Fiction.

Book Review:
Daša Drndić's ''E.E.G.'' is a challenging and deeply rewarding work from one of the most significant voices in contemporary European literature. Following her critically acclaimed novels Trieste and Belladonna, this book continues Drndić's unflinching exploration of history, memory, trauma, and the long shadow they cast on the present.

While a detailed plot summary is elusive, readers familiar with Drndić's work will know what to expect: a dense, layered, and intellectually ambitious narrative that blurs the lines between fiction, history, and autobiography. Like the works of W.G. Sebald, to whom she is often compared, Drndić weaves together disparate threads—personal stories, historical documents, photographs, and philosophical reflections—to create a powerful meditation on the 20th century's darkest chapters, particularly the horrors of World War II and their lasting impact on European identity.

Drndić's prose, beautifully translated by Celia Hawkesworth, is precise, unsparing, and often haunting. She stares directly into the ''inky sins of us all'' and does not blink. Her novels are not easy reads; they demand concentration and a willingness to sit with discomfort. But for those who engage with them, the reward is immense. ''E.E.G.'' is a profound and unforgettable journey into the heart of historical darkness and the complexities of human experience.

Praised by critics for its depth and ambition, and for its place within a body of work described as ''brutal, beautiful, and unforgettable'' (Eileen Battersby, Los Angeles Review of Books), ''E.E.G.'' is an essential read for serious readers of literary fiction and anyone interested in the enduring power of literature to bear witness to history.