Vježbanje života
Practicing Life is a historical novel that explores the complex Croatian-Italian relations in Rijeka through the prism of two families – an Italian and a Croatian. Called a "chronisteria", the novel combines chronicle and hysteria, reflecting the turbulen
The first part follows Carlo, an Italian who comes to Rijeka in 1822, learns the shipbuilding trade and opens a shop. He falls in love with Fanica, a Croat from Gomila, with whom he has a son, Fumul, but Fanica dies after giving birth. Carlo and Fumul live on Mlaka, but their relationship is cold. Fumul, influenced by his friends, harbors animosity towards the Croats, blaming them for the city's troubles. In parallel, we meet the Despot family – Jožić, Tonka and their sons – whose lives intertwine with Carlo's family, while Rijeka passes through French, Austrian and Hungarian rule, with figures such as Ban Jelačić and Fran Kurelc.
The second part, set in 1947, focuses on Mafalda, Fumul's daughter, who remembers the past. The arrival of a steamer from Split brings Vjenceslav Despot and Lucijan, whose encounter with Mafalda and her family reveals the tragic consequences of history. The novel, steeped in documents and metafiction, depicts how history shatters the lives of ordinary people. Fabrio masterfully captures Rijeka as a city of conflict and coexistence, exploring identity, love and loss. The work has been appreciated for its complex narrative and profound portrayal of humanity.
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