
Povratak Filipa Latinovicza
A masterpiece of Croatian literature, it is a psychological study of alienation, identity, and the conflict between the individual and society. Painter Filip Latinovicz returns from Paris to his native Pannonian Plain after 23 years, trying to understand
Filip, disillusioned with the art world and his own life, arrives in the provincial town of Kostanjevec, where he is confronted with memories of his childhood, his mother Regina, and his unknown father. His return is not only physical, but also deeply introspective, filled with existential questions about the meaning of life and art. In the town, he meets Boba, a young woman with whom he begins a passionate but destructive love affair. Their relationship, marked by disharmony, further deepens Filip's inner crisis.
Through rich descriptions and philosophical introspection, Krleža depicts the conflict between Filip's intellectual sensitivity and the banality of provincial life, permeated with hypocrisy and social conventions. The novel explores themes of alienation, the impossibility of escaping the past, and the tragic search for authenticity. Filip's obsession with painting and the search for truth leads him to the brink of madness, as he faces a moral and emotional collapse.
Through a layered narrative, Krleža creates a universal story about a man's struggle with his own destiny. The novel ends tragically, leaving questions about Filip's ultimate redemption unresolved, which emphasizes Krleža's critique of society and human existence.
Two copies are available
Copy number 2
- Staines on the pages