Richard Swartz Book order

The Balkans have been so troubled by violence and misunderstanding that we have the verb “balkanize,” meaning to break up into smaller, warring components. While some of the region’s artists and thinkers have invariably fallen into nationalistic tendencies, the twenty-two prominent authors represented here, from the erstwhile Yugoslavia and its neighbors Albania and Bulgaria, have chosen to attempt to bridge these divides. The essays, biographical sketches, and stories in The Stranger Next Door form a project of understanding that picks up where politics fail. The English-language translation joins editions of the book that appeared concurrently in all of the participating countries.

Set in the picturesque Croatian region of Istria, the story revolves around a man's obsession with purchasing an abandoned house next door, much to the chagrin of his frustrated wife. The couple faces resistance from their neighbors, who view the husband as an outsider ignorant of the region's complex history and longstanding feuds. The novel weaves humor into the exploration of cultural misunderstandings and the challenges of fitting into a community steeped in tradition.

Through vivid imagery and insightful reflections, the book explores the lives of diverse individuals in Eastern Europe, highlighting Richard Swartz's experience as a privileged outsider. Readers encounter a range of characters, including Serbian poets, a Romanian bigot's wife, and a Czech hotel porter, each contributing to a rich tapestry of a region poised for transformation. The narrative weaves together personal stories that are both poignant and humorous, capturing the complexities of identity and history in a time of upheaval.