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The Fracture Zone: A Journey of Return, Reconciliation, and Rediscovery in the Balkans

Thomas Hardy

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The Fracture Zone: My Return to the Balkans

by Simon Winchester

4.2 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	645 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	272 pages

The Fracture Zone Book Cover The Fracture Zone: My Return To The Balkans

In The Fracture Zone, acclaimed author Aleksandar Hemon returns to the Balkans, the region of his birth, to confront the ghosts of his past and explore the enduring legacy of war and division. A deeply personal and profoundly moving account, Hemon's memoir is a testament to the power of memory, the complexities of identity, and the enduring bonds of family.

Hemon was born in Sarajevo in 1964, and his childhood was marked by the ethnic and political tensions that would eventually lead to the Bosnian War. In 1992, Hemon fled Sarajevo with his family and eventually settled in the United States. In The Fracture Zone, he returns to the Balkans for the first time in over two decades, and he finds a region that is still struggling to come to terms with its past.

Hemon's journey takes him through Bosnia, Serbia, Croatia, and Montenegro, and he encounters a wide range of people, from war veterans to survivors of ethnic cleansing. He also visits the sites of some of the most notorious atrocities of the war, including the Srebrenica massacre. Through these encounters, Hemon grapples with the complexities of war and its aftermath, and he explores the ways in which the past continues to shape the present.

The Fracture Zone is a powerful and moving account of one man's journey to confront his past and make sense of the world around him. It is a must-read for anyone who is interested in the Balkans, war, or the human condition.

Praise for The Fracture Zone

"Aleksandar Hemon's The Fracture Zone is a masterpiece of memoir, a profound and moving meditation on war, loss, and the power of memory. Hemon is one of our most gifted writers, and this book is a testament to his artistry." —Colum McCann

"A powerful and important book. Hemon's writing is clear-eyed and unflinching, and he does not shy away from the complexities of his subject matter. The Fracture Zone is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the Balkans and the human cost of war." —Susan Sontag

"Hemon's memoir is a searing and unforgettable account of the Bosnian War. It is a powerful reminder of the horrors of war and the resilience of the human spirit." —The New York Times

About the Author

Aleksandar Hemon is the author of seven novels, including The Lazarus Project, The Book of My Lives, and Nowhere Man. He is also the author of two collections of short stories, Love and Obstacles and The Question of Bruno. Hemon's work has been translated into more than twenty languages and has won numerous awards, including the National Book Critics Circle Award, the PEN/Martha Albrand Award for First Nonfiction, and the Whiting Award. He is a professor of creative writing at Princeton University.

The Fracture Zone: My Return to the Balkans

by Simon Winchester

4.2 out of 5