Café Europa: Life After Communism

Original edition:

Abacus, London, 1996

In this brilliant work of political reportage, filtered through Slavenka’s own experience, we see that Europe remains a divided continent. The Berlin Wall is gone, but there is still a chasm between East and West, consisting of the different way people continue to live and understand the world. Little bits—or intimations—of the West are gradually making their way east: boutiques carrying Levis and tiny food shops called “Supermarket” are multiplying on main boulevards. Even though Drakulić can find a Cafe Europa, complete with Viennese-style coffee and Western decor, in just about every Eastern European city, the acceptance of the East by the rest of Europe continues to prove much more elusive.

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Editions

Essays & Reviews About Book

CAFÉ EUROPA

Abacus, London, 1996

• Walkowitz, Rebecca. (2006) Immigrant Fictions: Contemporary Literature in the Age of Globalization. Contemporary literature, 47, No. 4. The University of Winsconsin Press.
• Simmons, Cynthia (1998). Review: Cafe Europa: Life After Communism. THE SLAVIC AND EAST EUROPEAN JOURNAL, Vol. 42, No. 2 (Summer, 1998), pp. 343-345
• Ashley, Julie (1997). The insidious ways ideology and economics affect our lives. Review, THE PRAGUE POST, July 2-8
• Persky, Stan (1997). Homely details turn into a big picture of Eastern Europe. Review, THE VANCOUVER SUN, January 10, p. A21
• (1996). Read of the week: Cafe Europa, Slavenka Drakulic. Review, EAST, December 20, p. 23
• (1996). Cafe Europa by Slavenka Drakulic. Review, THE OBSERVER, December 1, p. 18
• Hall, Liz (1996). Family troubles and ties picked apart. Review, WESTERN MORNING NEWS, November 8
• Altham, Joseph (1996). No paradise yet. Review, LITERARY REVIEW, October
• Seaton, Matt (1996). Did the European vision die in the Balkan killing fields?. Article, THE EUROPEAN, September 19
• O'Callaghan Gertie (1995). Currently reading: Slavenka Drakulic. Interview, THE GUARDIAN, September 15

CAFÉ EUROPA

Norstedts, Stockholm, 1996

• Hammar, Inger (1997). Café Europa. Review, GOTLANDS ALLEHANDA, February 10
• Korsström, Tuva (1996). Livet i halvkommunismen. Review, HUFVUDSTADSBLADET, December 22, p. 8
• Jansson, Ake (1996). Café Europa. Review, SÄFFLE-TIDNINGEN, October 31
• Björklund, David (1996). Längtan efter Europa. Review, SKÖVDE NYHETER, November 6
• Falkenhaug, Ingvild (1996). Europeiska bilder från lägtans café. Review, VÄSTERVIKS-TIDNINGEN, October 28
• Palm, Mimmi (1996). Vardagsliv i Östeuropa. Review, FINANSTIDNINGEN, October 29
• Mallik, Ira (1996). Drömmen om ett nytt Europa. Review, SKANSKA DAGBLADET, October 27
• Ostwald, Kerstin (1996). En uppgörelse med den fascistika nationalismen. Review, GOTLANDS TIDNINGAR, October 24
• Uttervall, Mats (1996). Tryfflarna på Trastfältet. Article, DAGENS POLITIK, October 18
• Salö, Örjan (1996). Identitet och längtan. Review, ÖRNSKÖLDSVIKS ALLEHANDA, October 14
• Ekelin, Annelie (1996). Säker skildrare av öst. Article, BLEKINGE LÄNS TIDNING; KARLSHAMNS ALLEHANDA; SÖLVESBORGS-TIDNINGEN, October 11
• Persson, Maria (1996). Motsägelsefull Drakulic. Review, NORRA SKANE, October 10
• Polvall, Tomas (1996). Livet fortsätter som vanligt. Review, KRISTIANSTADSBLADET; HALLANDSPOSTEN, October 3
• Liden, Sture (1996). Längtan efter ett annat Europa. Review, AVESTA TIDNING-AVESTA POSTEN; SALA ALLEHANDA; FAGERSTA-POSTEN, October
• Rundgren, Lars (1996). Så kan historiens lönger skapas. Review, FOLKBLADET NORRKÖPING; ÖSTGÖTEN, October 2
• Wistrand, Sven (1996). Om Europa i brytningstid. Review, HALLANDS NYHETER, October 2
• Edwardson, Ake (1996). Angelägen läsning. Review, JOURNALISTEN
• Bondestam, Tinna (1996). De vanliga människorna. Review, NYA WERMLANDS-TIDNINGEN, September 30
• Abrahamsson, Örjan (1996). Slavenka Drakulic x 2. Interview, GÖTEBORG TIDNING; ARBETARBLADET; NYA WERMLANDS-TIDNINGEN; METRO; VÄSTERBOTTENS-KURIREN, September
• Milles, Ulrika (1996). På maktens balkong. Review, GÖTEBORGS-POSTEN, September 30
• Österman, Owe (1996). Drakulićs Europa. Review, UPSALA NYA TIDNING, September 30
• Hedmark, Maria (1996). Östereuropéerna - barn av sin tid. Review, NORRA VÄSTERBOTTEN, September 30
• Sommelius, Sören (1996). Satir och beska sanningar. Review, HELSINGBORGS DAGBLAD, September 30
• Bergström-Edwards, Pia (1996). Det privata är politiskt. Review, AFTONBLADET, September 30
• Gellerfelt, Mats (1996). Det lilla livet nyckeln till den politiska gåtan. Review, SVENSKA DAGBLADET, September 30
• Lundin, Immi (1996). De färska spåren sopas igen. Review, SYDSVENSKA DAGBLADET, September 30 Matković, Ivan (1996). From the Second World War to this war: Croatian literary life between ideology and nationalism. TriQuarterly, September 22nd, 130-141.
• Hansen, Stig (1996). Slavenka Drakulic får oss att se. Review, SUNDSVALLS TIDNING, September 30
• Thor, Clas (1996). I de små detaljerna speglas det stora Europa. Review, NERIKES ALLEHANDA- NERIKES TIDNINGEN, September 30
• Karlsson, Jan (1996). Europa - en hägring. Article, ÖSTGÖTA CORRESPONDENTEN; BOHUSLÄNINGEN MED DALS DAGBLAD, September 30
• Hessler, Ole (1996). Tonårslandet. Review, DAGENS NYHETER, September 30
• Nydahl, Thomas (1996). Dagens katastrofer fortsätter att engagera. Review, KVÄLLSPOSTEN, September 29
• Wictorsson, Brigitta (1996). Förklarar med vardagsbilder. Review, ÖSTERSUNDS-POSTEN, September 27

CAFÉ EUROPA, W. W. Norton, New York, 1997

• Millington, Sheree (2019). What ro read where: the best books by destination. Article, LONELY PLANET. June 26. Available at: https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/what-to-read- where?fbclid=IwAR1vJ1XUNVyvemffTJzm3hq1whopnzrSes-XBbUuYSlcyhMqBumZ55_ZUaE
• McNamee, Dardis (2010). Witness for the west. Article, THE VIENNA REVIEW, November, p. 9
• Veale, Scott (1999). Café Europa. Review, THE NEW YORK TIMES, April 11, p. 40
• Ifkovic, Ed (1997). Drakulic, Slavenka: Café Europa. Review, MULTICULTURAL REVIEW, September, p. 78
• Shane, Scott (1997). After communism: how sweet to forget. Review, THE BALTIMORE SUN, September 2
• Dobbs, Michael (1997). Profits and loss. Review, THE WASHINGTON POST, March 24
• Anderson, Alison (1997). The free world can be a daunting place. Review, SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE, March 16
• Gould, Jennifer (1997). Café Culture. Review, VILLAGE VOICE, March 11, p. 55
• Baudoin, Patsy (1997). Chez Slavenka: sweet and sour dispatches. Review, THE BOSTON BOOK REVIEW, March, p. 31
• Fisher, Barbara (1997). Café Europa. Review, THE BOSTON SUNDAY GLOBE, March 2
• Kukutani, Michiko (1997). Soul of Croatia is bared in its teeth. Review, NEW YORK TIMES, February 21
• Schneider, Bethany (1997). After the fall: reinventing Europa. Review, ELLE, February, p. 66
• Merrill, Christopher (1997). Breaking away. Review, LOS ANGELES TIMES, February 16, p. 11
• Zacharek, Stephanie (1997). Café Europa: Life after communism. Review, SALON MAGAZINE, February 13
• (1996). Café Europa. Review, PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, December 16, p. 51-2
• (1996). Drakulic, Slavenka: Café Europa. Review, KIRKUS REVIEWS, December 15

CAFÉ PARADIES

Aufbau-Verlag, Berlin, 1997

• (2019). Kopräsent mit Folge 40: Slavenka Drakulić. PODCAST ANALPHABETEN. Die Literatur und Kultur Podcast! September 6. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hh5c_R6Klso&fbclid=IwAR27nnCvBz6jmQkfg4l6t0NqhbNCbynUK dkZSS_xyaxhXND_4mzgpXPwT2w
• (1998). Café Paradies. Review, CHRIST IN DER GEGENWART, January
• Kellermann, Kerstin (1998). Review, AN.SCHLÄGE, February, p. 36
• Mischke, Roland (1998). Nur die Schikanen sind gratis. Article, SÜDDEÜTSCHE ZEITUNG Nr. 31, February 7/8, p. III

CAFÉ EUROPA

M. Nagaba, Japan, 1998

• (1998). Review, TOSHO SHIMBUN, November 28
• (1998). Review, TOKYO SIMBUN, September 27
• (1998). Review, DOKUSHO-JIN, October 16
• (1998). Review, SEIKYO SHIMBUN Vol. 11

CAFÉ EUROPA

Penguin books, New York, 1999

• (2016). Best books about Croatia: your 10 thrilling holiday reads. Blog ZAGREB HONESTLY, May 5. Available aat: https://travelhonestly.com/best-books-about-croatia/
• (1999). New and nothworthy paperbacks. Review, THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW, April 11, p. 40