A Castle in Romagna
Igor Štiks

A Castle in Romagna is a two-pronged novel. A contemporary story of a Bosnian refugee who visits a manor house in Italy is interwoven with a story of Renaissance political intrigues. These historical flashbacks illuminate post-WWII Yugoslavia, particularly Tito's break with Stalin and forced mass expulsion of Italians from the Croatian seacoast that was previously occupied by Mussolini. The legacy of fascist violence against Slavs is not forgotten but the communist politics of retribution is not endorsed either. A slim and elegant novel of tested loyalties and multiple identities.

World Literature Today

History repeats itself, and the enduring nostalgia for the comforts of home pervade this emotional work of literature.
A tale richly steeped in passion, and the burning desires that drive humans beyond their limits.

Midwest Book Review

In this compact, intricately structured novel, Štiks has constructed a marvelous hall of mirrors. The stories reflect and foil each other, and the fates of each of the characters connect across time and space.

Vue Weekly

A novel that shifts in scene between Renaissance Italy and Tito's Yugoslavia, telling parallel yet intertwined stories of love, deceit, and betrayal.

Midwest Book Review