The Culture of Lies

Synopsis

In this fearless collection of essays, Dubravka Ugrešić examines the rise of nationalism, propaganda, censorship, and the quiet ways ideology seeps into everyday life. Written during the violent breakup of Yugoslavia, her essays move effortlessly between politics, literature, popular culture, memory, and exile, exposing how lies become embedded in public life and how intellectuals, the media, and ordinary people can become complicit in their spread.

Sharp, witty, and unflinchingly honest, The Culture of Lies is both a record of a particular historical moment and a timeless meditation on the dangers of nationalism and historical amnesia. Ugrešić's voice is by turns satirical, melancholy, and fiercely independent, making this one of the essential works of contemporary European nonfiction.

About the Author

Dubravka Ugrešić (1949–2023) was a Croatian writer, essayist, and one of Europe's most important literary voices. After publicly opposing nationalism during the Yugoslav wars, she was subjected to a campaign of harassment that led her into exile. She spent much of her life in the Netherlands, where she continued to write acclaimed works of fiction and nonfiction, including The Museum of Unconditional Surrender, The Ministry of Pain, and Karaoke Culture. She received numerous international honours, including the Neustadt International Prize for Literature in 2016. This edition is translated by Celia Hawkesworth and includes an afterword by Mark Thompson.

Publisher

Open Letter Books

Publication Date

April 16, 2024

Format

Paperback

Pages

300

Subjects

Essays · Cultural Criticism · European History · Politics · Nationalism · Literary Nonfiction

ISBN

9781948830782