The Scent of Rain in the Balkans (, ) is a historical novel written by Gordana Kuić. The novel was published in 1986, becoming an instant bestseller. It centers on the Salom family, most notably five sisters — Buka, Nina, Klara, Blanki and Riki. The novel was inspired by Kuić's mother Blanki Levi and her sisters. The Scent of Rain in the Balkans follows the destinies of, not only Jews, but also Orthodox, Bosniaks and Catholics during two major historical events — World War I and World War II. In his review of the novel, David Albahari wrote: The Scent of Rain in the Balkans has been adapted into a ballet, a play and a television series. Plot The novel describes the historic period in the Balkans from the beginning of World War I in 1914, to the end of World War II in 1945 through the lives and destinies of the Saloms, a Sephardic Jewish family from Sarajevo. The leading characters are the five courageous Salom sisters whose struggle to fulfil personal desires and aspirations run contrary to the strict conventions of the multicultural and religious societies — Bosnian Jew, Muslim, Orthodox and Catholic — of the time, living side by side in the small town of Sarajevo. Characters The Salom family Leon Salom, the father of the family Estera Salom, the mother of the family Laura "Buka" Salom, later Laura Papo, the eldest daughter of Leon and Estera Nina Salom, later Nina Ignjatić, the second daughter of Leon and Estera Klara Salom, later Klara Valić, the third daughter of Leon and Estera Isak "Atleta" Salom, the eldest son of Leon and Estera Blanka "Blanki" Salom, later Branka Korać, the fourth daughter of Leon and Estera Rifketa "Riki" Salom, the fifth and the youngest daughter of Leon and Estera, who becomes a successful ballerina Elijas Salom, the second son and the youngest child of Leon and Estera Nona Salom, one of the aunts of the Salom children and a highly respected member of the family Serbian characters Marko Korać, a Mostar–born Blanki's childhood crush and eventually her husband Škoro "Ignjo" Ignjatić, Danijel's friend and Nina's husband Miloš Ranković, Riki's mentor and lover for a while Dušan, a journalist from Belgrade who fancies Riki Sanda Jovanović, Riki's friend from Belgrade of Jewish heritage Nena Ranković, Miloš's wife Vlada Stefanović, a teacher in the village where Riki hides Danica Stefanović, Vlada's