Matija is a truly enduring work by the Croatian journalist and writer Drago Hedl.
It is an intimate, harrowing, and autobiographical prose narrative in which the author describes the experience of losing his own son, Matija Hedl. A successful doctor of biochemistry and research associate at Yale University—who died by suicide.
In terms of genre, Matija is often described as being closest to a diary or memoir, blending personal reflection, parental grief, and a retrospective of the son’s life. This includes the particularly difficult period of 37 days during which the parents waited for Matija’s body to be transferred from the United States back to Croatia.
Throughout the book, Hedl explores themes such as grief, guilt, family relationships, mental health, as well as broader social reflections on success and the pressures placed on individuals in high-level academic environments.
In the foreword and media announcements, Matija is emphasized as a deeply personal and emotional work, often described as a book about a father and a son—one of the deepest forms of human connection.
Join us for the book presentation at the Hvar Loggia,
23rd of January at 6:00 PM
