Vinko Vrbanić (born 12 May 1951) is a Croatian writer who lives in Vinkovci, Croatia. He is best known for his published short stories, novellas Furmani (Carters) and Sokolov let (Flight of the Falcon), and coming-of-age novel Glasovi u šumi (Voices in the Forest). He graduated from the School of Agriculture in Požega, worked in construction, and fought in the Croatian War of Independence. Genre Novellas Furmani [Carters] and Sokolov let [Flight of the Falcon] are collections of diverse tales connected by loose narratives about the tragic lives of common folk. Whereas, the coming-of-age novel Glasovi u šumi [Voices in the Forest] traces the life of a mischievous boy growing up in a Croatian village during times of socio-political upheaval. “At last, we received a storyteller who stepped away from traditional themes and turned towards the urban setting, telling stories that avoid romantic or melodramatic content,” says Zlatko Virc in Vinkovacki list [Vinkovci Newspaper]. Themes The short stories in Sokolov let [Flight of the Falcon] trace the struggles and destinies of the ordinary people caught between the great military powers during the decline of the Ottoman Empire. In Furmani [Carters], the author examines fate in short stories about people from the bottom of the social ladder who turn to alcohol as a way to cope with their broken lives. His coming-of-age novel Glasovi u šumi [Voices in the Forest] captures the persistent struggle for a better life and brutality of those in power. Style Vrbanić writes short, inter-connected narratives with a discernible beginning, climax, and resolution encapsulated within self-contained chapters that demonstrate the author's skill as storyteller from an oral tradition. Bibliography Novel Voices in the Forest, Independently published, 2019 Short story "Gvozdansko" (Cro), književnost.hr, KNJIŽEVNOST.HR, 2018 Short story "Gvozdansko" (Eng), ZiN Daily, ZVONA i NARI, 2018 Short story "Kuga", književnost.hr, KNJIŽEVNOST.HR, 2018 Short story "Beograd", ZiN Daily, ZVONA i NARI, 2018 Short story "Cvija", Darežljivo srce, Glas Koncila, 2016 Short story “Rakija”, Dar Domovine, Glas Koncila, 2014 Novel Glasovi u šumi, Modimac Ltd., 2012 Novellas Furmani–Sokolov let, Modimac Ltd., 2011 Short story "Riječka luka", Moji Vinkovci, Privlačica, 2010 Short stories "Džepni sat" and "Božić", Moji Vinkovci, Privlačica, 2009 Awards 2nd shared prize [pohvalnica] for a drama "Dvadeseto pjevanje" at 36th HSK National Literary Competition 2017 1st prize for a short story "Cvija" at the Dr. Stjepan Kranjčić Literary Competition 2016 Short story "Rakija" selected for publication in the journal