Skip to content

They Would Never Hurt a Fly

Original edition:

Abacus – TimeWarner, London, 2004

“Who were they? Ordinary people like you or me—or monsters?” asks Slavenka Drakulić as she sets out to understand the people behind the horrific crimes committed during the war that tore apart Yugoslavia in the 1990s. Drawing on firsthand observations of the trials and other sources, Drakulić portrays individuals accused of murder, rape, torture, ordering executions, and more during one of the most brutal conflicts in Europe in the twentieth century, including former Serbian president Slobodan Miloševic; Radislav Krstić, the first to be sentenced for genocide and Biljana Plavšić, the only woman accused of war crimes. With clarity and emotion, Drakulić paints a wrenching portrait of a country needlessly torn apart.

In the first in-depth look at the war crimes trials in The Hague, Slavenka Drakulić has written a deeply personal and lucid account. She brings to life men who destroyed Yugoslavia – mediocre people who committed extraordinary crimes.
Laura Silber, coauthor of Yugoslavia: Death of a Nation
Lucidly written..a devastating book…(Drakulić’s) direct, personal style does justice to the weight and grimness of these stories.
The Guardian (London)

Editions

2021

SEKULA EZ LIOKETE EULI BATI HEGALIK KENDUKO

Txalparta, Tafalla

2021
2018

ВОНИ Б І МУХИ НЕ СКРИВДИЛИ

Komora Books, Kiev

2018
2018

AZARESHAN BE MORCHE HAM NEMIRESID

Setak, Teheran

2018
2015

THEY WOULD NEVER HURT A FLY

V.B.Z., Zagreb

2015
2008

N-AR FACE RĂU NICI UNEI MUŞTE

Curtea Veche, Bucharest

2008
2008

NAO FAZIAMMAL A UMA MOSCA

Pedra da Lua, Lisbon

2008
2008

NO MATARIAN NI UNA MOSCA

Global Rhythm Press S.L. Barcelona

2008
2006

ONI NIE SKRZYWDZILIBY NAWET

WAB, Warsaw

2006
2005

EIVÄT TEKISI PAHAA KÄRPASELLE

Like OY, Helsinki

2005
2005

THEY WOULD NEVER HURT A FLY

Penguin USA, New York

2005
2005

A LEGYNEK SEM ARTANANAK

Jelenkor Kiado, Pecs

2005
2005

IKKE EN FLUE FORTRED

Humanist Forlag AS, Oslo

2005
2004

DE VILLE IKE GOREEN FLUE FORTRAED

Lindhardt ok Ringhof, Kopenhagen

2004
2004

KAINER WAR DABEI

Zsolnay, Vienna

2004
2004

INTE EN FLUGA FORNAR

Norstedts, Stockholm

2004
2004

ONI NE BI NI MRAVA ZGAZILI

B92, Beograd

2004
2004

THEY WOULD NEVER HURT A FLY

Viking, New York

2004
2004

THEY WOULD NEVER HURT A FLY

Abacus – TimeWarner, London

2004
2003

ZE ZOUDEN NOG GEEN VLIEG KWAAD DOEN

De Geuss, Breda

2003
2003

Oni ne bi ni mrava zgazili

Feral Tribune, Split

2003

Essays & Reviews About Book

ONI NE BI NI MRAVA ZGAZILI

Feral Tribune, Split, 2003
  • Vidović, Anđela (2019). Eichmann u Jeruzalemu: poraz humanosti bez kapi krvi i povišenog tona. ARTEIST, March 25. Available at: https://arteist.hr/eichmann-u-jeruzalemu-zkm/
  • Čobanov, Saša (2014). Ubojica stripovskog srca. PLAN B, July 28. Available at: http://planb.hr/ubojica- stripovskog-srca/
  • Basara, Svjetlana (2007). Čitanje knjige eseja Slavenke Drakulić: Oni ne bi ni mrava zgazili. Graduation thesis. Faculty of humanities and social sciences, Zagreb.
  • Melčić, Dunja (2005). Na pogrešna pitanja nema razumnih odgovora. GORDOGAN 3 (6), p. 265-267
  • Zibar, Morana (2004). Monstrumi iz susjedstva. Review, GORDOGAN, 2 (2-3), p. 233
  • Lesničar-Pučko, Tanja (2004). Ljudje kot vi in jaz ali zares pošasti? Article, DNEVNIK, August 14, p. 28
  • Ognjenović, Vujica (2004). Moralni izbor, naravno, ima svoju cijenu, ali je takav izbor uvijek moguć, a to je važno znati. Interview, VIJESTI, July 31, p. 6-7
  • Mikuličin, Ivana (2004). Gdje su nestali svi dobri susjedi?. Article, JUTARNJI LIST, July 19, p. 34
  • Dragojević, Rade (2004). Hologrami zločina. Interview, ZAREZ, July 15, p. 8
  • Lasić, Igor (2004). Prošlost je naš bumerang. Interview, FERAL TRIBUNE, June 1, p. 38-39
  • Ognjenović, Vujica (2004). Sudiće nam naša djeca. Interview, MONITOR, May 28, p. 50-51
  • Kolarović, Vlatka (2004). Slavenka Drakulić: zločinci među nama. Interview, ELLE, April, p. 86-90
  • Crnković, Gordana (2004). Sva lica zla. Review, TEMA No. 3/4, March/April, p. 126-127
  • Perišić, Robert (2004). Psiho pred Haškim sudom. Review, GLOBUS, February 27, p. 76
  • Pančić, Teofil (2004). Skaredno bratstvo. Review, VREME No. 682, January 29. Available at: https://www.vreme.com/cms/view.php?id=365938
  • Grbac, Ana (2003). Stvaranje zločinaca. Article, ELLE, December, p. 70
  • Ožegović, Nina (2003). Slavenka Drakulić – psiholog ratnog zločina. Interview, NACIONAL No. 419. Available at: http://arhiva.nacional.hr/clanak/13647/slavenka-drakulic-psiholog-ratnog-zlocina
  • Džebić, Branka (2003). Razgovor s književnicom Slavenkom Drakulić: Svi smo mi taoci zločina počinjenih u prošlom ratu. Interview, VJESNIK, October 26
  • Mikuličin, Ivana (2003). Razgovor s književnicom Slavenkom Drakulić: Baš ništa na licima tih ljudi ne odaje zločince. Interview, JUTARNJI LIST, October 15, p. 69-71
  • Jajčinović, Milan (2001). Slavenka Drakulić u Foči. Article, VEČERNJI LIST, June 4, p. 16

KAINER WAR DABEI

Zsolnay, Vienna, 2004
  • Bodrozic, Marica (2005). Sie Würden nie einer Fliege etwas zuleide tun. Article, Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk Online, March 9
  • (2005). Keiner war dabei?. Interview, Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk, February 8
  • Zetzsche, Cornelia (2005). Diwan von der Leipziger Buchmesse. Interview, Bayerischer Rundfunk, Bayern2Radio, March 19
  • (2005). Slavenka Drakulic: Keiner war dabei. Bücherwelt auf NDR 1 Niedersachsen
  • (2005). Leipziger Buchpreis an Kroatin Slavenka Drakulic. Webradio, ORF.at, March 16
  • (2005). Slavenka Drakulic: Keiner war dabei. Article, Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk Online, March 21
  • Fecht, Günther (2005). Die Leipziger Buchmesse wächst and wächst. Article, Pester Lloyd
  • Schnitzler, Mathias (2005). Porträts von Opfern und Verbrechern. Article, Berliner Zeitung, March 16
  • Gebert, Herbert (2005). Absurdes Theater Gerechtigkeit. Article, Nürnberger Zeitung, March 16
  • Grossmann, Karin (2005). Macht kann wie eine Droge wirken. Article, Sächsische Zeitung, March 16
  • Gutschke, Irmatraud (2005). Banales und Böses. Article, Neues Deutschland, March 17
  • (2005). Slavenka Drakulic: Finger in der Wunde. Article, buchreport express No. 5, February
  • (2005). Leipziger Buchpreis: Slavenka Drakulic ausgezeichnet. Article, Süddeutsche Zeitung, January 28
  • (2005). Slavenka Drakulic erhält Leipziger Buchpreis. Article, Der Standard Online, January 27
  • (2005). Leipziger Buchpreis für Kroatin Slavenka Drakulic. Article, ORF.at, January 27
  • (2005). Leipziger Buchpreis für Schriftstellerin Slavenka Drakulic. Article, Neue Zürcher Zeitung Online, January 27
  • (2005). Slavenka Drakulic erhält Leipziger Buchpreis. Article, Börsenblatt Online, November 1

LEIPZIGER BUCHPREIS

  • Hartmann, Alois (2008). Warum diese Kriegslust der Völker?. Article, Weltweit no. 3, p. 19
  • Melcic, Dunja (2005). Beim Angeln. Review, Rechtsgeschichte No. 6, p. 235-238
  • Wilke-Launer, Renate (2005). Keiner war dabei. Review, der überblick No. 1, March, p. 96
  • Encke, Julia (2004). Ein Land im Tunnel. Sueddeutsche Zeitung, November 13/14
  • Küppers, Bernhard (2004). Der nette Massenmörder. Review, Sueddeutsche Zeitung, October 29
  • Bolzen, Stefanie (2004). Die ganz normalen Verbrecher von Bosnien und Serbien. Review, Die Welt, October 20
  • (2004). Keiner war dabei. Review, Hessen Kurier, October
  • Ladurner, Ulrich (2004). Blutrünstige Gespenster. Review, Die Zeit, September 9
  • Pranzl, Alfred (2004). Gerechtigkeit auf dem Balkan. Review, Skug (Journal für Musik), 59/04, p. 61
  • Gesterkamp, Harald (2004). Menschen und Mörder. Review, Schnüss, September
  • (2004). Keiner war dabei. Review, Salzburger Nachrichten, August 28
  • Fetscher, Caroline (2004). Nun spielen die Mörder Karten. Review, Der Tagesspiegel, August 16
  • Wagner, Marc-Christoph (2004). Die Wurzeln des Hasses. Review, Rheinischer Merkur, August 5
  • Wagner, Marc-Christoph (2004). Keiner war dabei. Review, DeutschlandRadio, Deutschlandfunk, August 2
  • Macke, Car Wilhelm (2004). Wozu denn Reue?. Review, Südwestrundfunk, July 17
  • Terkessidis, Mark (2004). Das Monster in uns. Review, Literaturen, July/August
  • Bodrozic, Marica (2004). Die schweren Gewichte des Friedens. Review, Der Bund, July 8
  • Scheiner, Jonathan (2004). Kleine Lichter, grosse Schlächter. Review, Schwäbische Zeitung, June 25
  • Bodrozic, Marica (2004). Sie würden nie einer Fliege etwas zuleide tun - Ein Buch über Kriegsverbrecher auf dem Balkan vor Gericht. Review, MDR Figaro Radio, Journal am Nachmittag, June 10
  • (2004). Aus den Gerichtssälen des Jugoslawien-Tribunals. Review, Luxemburger Wort, June 10
  • Schwarz, Karl-Peter (2004). Der Gefängnisfrieden. Review, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, June 2
  • Achermann, Erika (2004). Von Menschen und Mördern. Review, St. Galler Tagblatt, June 1
  • (2004). Es gibt keine Gerechtigkeit ohne Wahrheit. Review, Neue Zürcher Zeitung, internationale Ausgabe, May 28, p. 5
  • (2004). Aus den Gerichtssälen des Jugoslawien-Tribunals. Review, Esslinger Zeitung, May 8/9
  • (2004). Beängstigend. Review, Offenbach Post, May 8
  • Krumphuber, Pamela (2004). Berichte aus den Köpfen der Täter. Interview, buecher.at, May
  • (2004). Kriegsverbrechen auf dem Balkan. Review, Nordbayerische Kurier, May 8/9
  • Krestan, Doris (2004). Slavenka Drakulic: Keiner War dabei. Review, sandammeer.at
  • Zimmermann, Peter (2004). Slavenka Drakulic: Keiner War dabei. Kriegsverbrechen auf dem Balkan vor Gericht. Review, ORF Hörfunk-Reihe "Kontext-Sachbücher in Themen", April 23
  • Zelinger, David (2004). Kriegsverbrechen am Pranger. Review, orf.at
  • Steiner-Gashi, Ingrid (2004). Mein Nachtbar, der Kriegsverbrecher. Review, Kurier, April 22, p. 7
  • Kluy, Alexander (2004). Hetzer, Opportunisten, Liebhaber der Macht. Review, Frankfurter Rundschau, April 19
  • Jantsch, Veronika (2004). Den Krieg sezieren. Review, Der Standard, April 14
  • Petrisch, Wolfgang (2004). Man spielt wieder Karten. Review, The Presse, April 3
  • General, Regina (2004). Das Banale ist das Böse.: Review, Freitag No. 14, March 26.
  • Volf, Patrik (2004). Unter Geiern.: Review, Falter No. 13, March 26, p. 38-39.
  • (2004). Monster und Menschen. Review, Fraz, No. 3
  • Macke, Carl Wilhelm (2004). Wozu denn Reue?. Review, Titel-Magazin, March 22
  • Macke, Carl Wilhelm (2004). Immun gegen das Vergessen der ethnischen Konflikte. Review, Tages Anzeiger, March 22
  • Dunai, Andrea (2004). Die Mörder sitzen im Café und verspotten ihre Opfer. Review, Das Parlament, March 15/22

INTE EN FLUGA FÖRNÄR

Norstedt, 2005
  • Bodelmann, Marcus (2005). Slavenka Drakulic får tyskt bokpris. Article, DAGENS NYHETER, January 28
  • Lundin, Tomas (2005). Prisad för europeisk förståelse. Interview, SVENSKA DAGBLADET, January 27
  • Weyler, Svante (2004). Monstren och rättvisan. Article, NORSTEDTS KAPITEL, Summer, p. 4
  • Granberg, Mats (2004). Drakulic går rakt på sak om Balkans krigsförbrytare. Article, NORRKÖPINGS TIDNINGAR, June 8
  • Gussarsson, Eva (2004). Taras sommar-läsning. Interview, TARA, June 8
  • Fridlund, Gert-Ove (2004). En röst värd att lyssna till. Article, HALLANDSPOSTEN, June 4
  • Alberius, Henrik (2004). Inte en fluga förnär. Review, KATOLSK MAGASIN, May 24
  • Dahl, Kristina (2004). Jakten på ondskan. Article, VÄSTERBOTTENS FOLKBLAD, May 15
  • (2004). Draculic inte riktigt övertygande. Article, ARBETAREN, May 14
  • Henningsson, Jonas (2004). Elegant sätt om det mest fruktansvärda. Article, SMALANDSPOSTEN, May 10
  • Strömberg, Ragnar (2004). Att förstå ondskan är att besegra den. Article, GÖTEBORGS-POSTEN, April 29
  • Thomsson, Lena (2004). Befogenheter som bara tillfaller Gud. Article, GEFLE DAGBLADET, April 28
  • Hamren, Henrik (2004). Skulle du kunna bli en mördare?. Article, RÖDA KORSETS TIDNING, April 22
  • Sandberg, Fredrik (2004). En sanning om kriget. Article, YSTADS ALLEHANDA, April 19
  • Sener, Refik (2004). Drakulic vill få oss att förstå bödlarna. Article, SÖDERMANLANDS NYHETER, April 17
  • (2004). Ann Haberlein läser Slavenka Drakulic. Article, SYDSVENSKAN, April 12
  • Bosnic, Alisa (2004). När människor blir monster. Article, VESTMANLANDS LÄNS TIDNING, April 8
  • Hedvall, Barbro (2004). Brottslingar och hjältar. Review, DAGENS NYHETER, April 7
  • Nyström, Jan-Olov (2004). Vanligt hat, vanligt folk. Review, NORRBOTTENS-KURIREN; HÄSLINGE- KURIREN; LJUSDALS-POSTEN, April
  • Svensson, Per (2004). Article, EXPRESSEN, April 4
  • Theorin, Johan (2004). Kustliga, viktiga insikter. BOHUSLÄNINGEN MED DALS DAGBLADET, April 2
  • (2004). Pa de anklagades bänk i Haag. Review, VÄSTRA NYLAND, April 2
  • Ankarvik, Mikael (2004). Den banala krigsförbrytaren. Review, NORRA SKANE, April 1
  • Dahlman, Inger (2004). Den obegripliga grymheten. Article, BLEKINGE LÄNS TIDNING; SÖLVESBORGS-TIDNINGEN; KARLSHAMNS ALLEHANDA, March 30
  • (2004). Det bor en bödel i oss alla. Review, BORGA BLADET, March 30, p. 11
  • Hagen, Cecila (2004). Mördare är alldeles vanliga. Interview, KVÄLLSPOSTEN, March 28
  • Sarring, Margareta (2004). Hur blir man krigsbödel?. Article, FOLKBLADET, March 27
  • Magnusson, Helene (2004). Människa eller monster?. Article, MARIESTADS TIDNINGEN, March 26
  • Nordlund-Hessler, Tita (2004). Kan vi någonsin förstå de anklagade?. Article, ESKILSTUNA- KURIREN/STRENGNÄS TIDNINGEN, March 24
  • Sandahl, Dag (2004). Brutalt uppriktigt om Balkankriget. Article, NYHETERNA; ÖSTRAN, March 24
  • Wihlke, Ola (2004). Kan du och jag bega fasansfulla illdåd?. Article, NORRKÖPINGS TIDNINGAR, March 23
  • Wihlke, Ola (2004). Monster och människor. Article, BAROMETERN; SKANSKA DAGBLADET; NORRKÖPINGS TIDNINGAR, March 23
  • Winqvist, Tore (2004). Uppgörelser med ras och klasshat. Article, UPSALA NYA TIDNING, March 23
  • Ekman, Bengt Ingvar (2004). Men monster är de inte. Article, BORAS TIDNING, March 22
  • Rudberg, Anna (2004). Ett försök arr förstå. Article, ÖSTGÖTA CORRESPONDENTEN, March 31
  • Lenas, Sverker (2004). Mördare som människor. Article, DAGENS NYHETER, March 22
  • Sener, Refik (2004). Genom förövarens blick. Article, HELSINGBORGS DAGBLAD; NORDVÄSTRA SKANES TIDNINGAR, March 22
  • Molander, Joakim (2004). Självinsikt är ondskans första offer. Article, SVENSKA DAGBLADET, March 22
  • Wihlke, Ola (2004). Interessant fråga men Drakulic tillför ingenting. Article, BAROMETERN, March 22
  • Borneskans, Fredrik (2004). Vem blir krigsförbrytare?. Article, ARBETARBLADET, March 22
  • Andersson, David (2004). Historien upprepar sig. Article, KRISTIANSTADSBLADET, March 22
  • Kälvemark, Torsten (2004). Vi kan alla bli förövare. Interview, AFTONBLADET, March 22
  • Forsberg, Catarina (2004). Inget nytt under solen i Drakulic bok. Article, LÄNSTIDNINGEN SÖDERTÄLJE, March 22
  • Wistrand, Sven (2004). Krigets offer i fokus när förövarna skildras. Article, HALLANDS NYHETER, March 22
  • Wihlke, Ola (2004). Störande upprepningar. Article, SKANSKA DAGBLADET, March 22
  • Wistrand, Sven (2004). Bland familjefäder och bödlar. Article, NERIKES ALLEHANDA, March 22
  • Borneskans, Fredrik (2004). Sa skapades krigsförbrytarna. Article, SUNDVALLS TIDNING, March 22
  • Haberlein, Ann (2004). Monster eller vanliga människor?. Article, SYDSVENSKA DAGBLADET, March 21
  • Borneskans, Fredrik (2004). Så skapades krigsförbrytarna. Article, NYA WERMLANDS-TIDINGEN; DAGEN; ARBETARBLADET, March 20
  • Mosander, Ingalill (2004). Vi kan alla bli mördare. Interview, AFTONBLADET, March 03
  • (2004). Review, SVENSK BOKHANDEL, January 16
  • Nilsson, Dick (2003). Drakulic, Slavenka: Inte en fluga förnär. Review, BTJ-Häftet, December 19

DE VILLE IKKE GØRE EN FLUE FORTRÆD

Lindhardt ok Ringhof, Kopenhagen, 2004
  • Flemming, Rose (2005). Interview: Ondskabens anatomi. Interview, JYLLANDS-POSTEN, January 7
  • Syberg, Karen (2005). Læs den bog!. Article, INFORMATÍON, January 13, p. 18
  • Holsoe, Jens (2005). Retsopgør: Alle har noget på alle. Article, POLITIKEN, January 15, p. 5
  • Brandt, Asger (2005). Bøger: En hyldest til den internationale retsorden. Review, KRISTELIGT DAGBLAD, January 20
  • Weiss, Birte (2004). Offerbøddel. Review, WEEKENDAVISEN, January 20

THEY WOULD NEVER HURT A FLY

Abacus, 2004

ONI NIE SKRZYWDZILIBY NAWET MUCHY

Wydawnictwo W.A.B., 2006
  • WALDMAN, SELMA: THE HAGUE PROJECT (Installation: NAKED/AGGRESSION: PROFILE OF THE ARMED PERPETRATOR 1998-2008. October 2 – November 1 2003. Gallery 110, Washington USA)
  • Rychter, Marcin (2006). Trybunał Haski, czyli banalność zła po bałkańsku. DZIENNIK POLSKI, July 28
  • Kaczorowski, Aleksander (2006). Przypadkowi mordercy. Review, GAZETA WYBORCZA, July 3
  • Czerwiński, Maciej (2006). „Zwyczajni“ zbrodniarze. Review, July 6, p. 28
  • Łupak, Sebastian (2006). A moze Miloszević umarł z miłości. Interview, WYSOKIE OBCASY, March 25, p. 10-14

NO MATARÍAN NI UNA MOSCA

Global Rhythm, 2008

ВОНИ Б І МУХИ НЕ СКРИВДИЛИ

Kiev, Komora, 2018