Ranko Marinković

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Ranko Marinković (1913 - 2001) was a Croatian writer.

He was born in Komiža, island of Vis, which was part of Austria-Hungary at a time. His childhood was marked by World War I.

He got himself degree in philosophy at University of Zagreb. In 1930s he began to make his name in Zagreb literary circles with his plays and stories.

His career was briefly interrupted with World War II. When his native island was occupied by fascist Italy, he was interned on Italian mainland. After capitulation of Italy, he came to El Shatt refugee camp where he made contacts with Tito's Partisans.

After the war Marinković spent time working in theatre.

His best known works are Glorija, play in which he criticised the Catholic Church, and Kiklop, semi-autobiographic novel in which he describes gloomy atmosphere among Zagreb intellectuals before the Axis invasion of Yugoslavia. The latter was adapted into 1982 movie directed by Antun Vrdoljak.

In last years of his life Marinković embraced political views of Franjo Tuđman and became a passionate member of Croatian Democratic Union.

He died in Zagreb.