Velibor Colic

Velibor Čolić is a Bosnian-born writer who writes in French. His works often explore themes of war, exile, and history, drawing from his experiences during the Bosnian War and his life as a refugee. His books have been translated into numerous languages, including English, German, Italian, Spanish, Greek, Turkish, Serbian, and Croatian.

Velibor Čolić was born in Bosnia-Herzegovina. He moved to France in 1992 and currently resides in Douarnenez, Brittany.

Čolić's early life was spent in a small town in Bosnia. He lost his home and manuscripts during the Bosnian War. He studied Yugoslav literature in Sarajevo and Zagreb. Čolić then worked as a radio journalist, focusing on rock and jazz.

In 1992, he was drafted into the Bosnian army but deserted in May. He was captured but managed to escape and fled to France in August 1992.

In Strasbourg, Čolić was welcomed by the Parliament of Writers for a one-year residency. Čolić's first book in France, Les Bosniaques, was published in 1993 and written during his residency in Strasbourg. The book portrays the Bosnian War through sketches and notes he secretly took on the front and in Sarajevo.

His novel Perdido, a fictional biography of saxophonist Ben Webster, is set in the world of jazz. In 2008, Čolić began writing his novels directly in French. His novel, Archanges, reflects on the atrocities of the Bosnian War.

Čolić participated in a writer's residency in 2010 and 2011, initiated by Lecture en Tête. During this residency, he wrote Sarajevo Omnibus, published in 2012 by Gallimard. This novel delves into the history of Sarajevo, including the Latin Bridge and the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand.

His notable works include The Bosniaks (1993), The Phantasmagorically Brief and Strange Life of Amedeo Modigliani (1995), Chronicle of the Forgotten (1995), Mother Funker (2000), Perdido (2004), Jesus and Tito (2010), etc.

Sarajevo Omnibus (2012) is a multi-narrative book centered around Sarajevo's history. Ederlezi (2014) traces the story of a Gypsy orchestra through the 20th century, surviving historical upheavals. In Manuel d’exil (2016), Čolić draws on his experiences as a refugee, combining poetic language with humor to depict the refugee condition. He has a unique ability to weave complex narratives, bringing together diverse characters and historical events.

In 2011, Čolić was the laureate of the Prix Littéraire des Jeunes Européens for his novel Jésus et Tito. In 2014, he received the Prix du rayonnement de la langue et de la littérature françaises from the Académie Française.

Velibor Čolić currently resides in Douarnenez, Brittany.

Photo credit: veliborcolic.wordpress.com