Black Butterflies: SHORTLISTED FOR THE WOMEN'S PRIZE 2023

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In conversation with Serbian journalist Dunja Ilić at Bookstan International Literature Festival, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, on 6 July 2023.

The book reads like a typical historical fiction without any uniqueness in form or distinctiveness in writing or prose (PS: I know I shouldn't be too harsh as this is a debut work by Morris). Hotjar sets this cookie to know whether a user is included in the data sampling defined by the site's pageview limit.It’s a great course that packs a lot in – we get to examine pieces of writing, practise writing, learn the mechanics, get feedback on our own work and support others.

I have found it really inspiring to meet others and to hear their ideas and learn different approaches to telling a story. When the Vijećnica was completely destroyed on 25 August 1992 (as a result of Serbian shelling during the Siege of Sarajevo), which resulted in the destruction of a majority of rare and unique collections of manuscripts and books in the library, Zora's despair, fear and desperation are amplified.I held it all together until I came to a letter dated July 18, 1992, and the dam broke and I sobbed. Black Butterflies is a compelling piece of historical fiction, a very readable account of civilian life during the 1992 siege of Sarajevo. It’s why the obliteration of cultural sites within the city and along with it the destruction of books, works of art and Zora’s studio has such a devastating effect on her.