John the Baptist

This novel is set in the first century AD, largely in the region of Galilee and Judeo, and partly in ancient Rome, at a time of tumultuous political and religious ferment. The main characters in the story are two young men, Elisha and Bileam and the young femme fatale, Salome. Their lives all change in various ways once they meet John the Baptist.

This intriguing novel is permeated with strong emotion, passion and rapture. Jesus Christ appears as one of the characters in the tale.

John the Baptist has gone through six editions in Croatia.
Translated into English, Spanish and German.

Nominated for THE INTERNATIONAL IMPAC DUBLIN LITERARY AWARD FOR 2005.

The Critics:

Thanks to a sound choice of personalities, excellent characterisation and convincing descriptions, Gavran has managed to conjure up for the reader not only interesting human characters, but also the spirit of times past.
NOVI LIST, Marinko Krmpotic

The brilliance of the story, the characterisation and personalities, the finely honed language and the narrative composition, this work by Gavran can be seen work. The skilfully formed characters and their traits are extracted from definitely to be the outcome of prolonged consideration and exhaustive everyday life to present a new reality, coloured with the imagination of the author.
SVJETLO RIJECI, Zvonko Benkovic

Gavran's John the Baptist is interesting literature, a well structured and well told story, and proof of the full maturity of this teller of tales, a writer who has long proved himself as a playwright, who definitely conquers the field of prose with his Baptist.
SLOBODNA DALMACIJA, Jasen Boko

As this novel speaks of universal values, the final message is deeply human and universal.
ZADARSKI LIST, Goran Bujic