Summary
A poet, physician, diplomat and academic from Selca. In 1991, he launched the ‘Croatia rediviva’ poetry gathering in his birthplace, bringing together Chakavian, Kajkavian and Shtokavian expression.
The poetry gathering in Selca is his enduring cultural home on Brač.
Roots in Selca and medicine
Štambuk was born in Selca and studied medicine in Zagreb. In London, he conducted clinical research on liver disease and experimental AIDS therapy. His professional path later included diplomacy and service in several countries; he became a member of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts in 2020.
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Poetry between homeland and the world
In collections ranging from ‘Meu namin’ and ‘Snijega za Ehnatona’ to ‘Brač’ and later books, he connects local, spiritual and historical themes with encounters with other cultures. His medical and diplomatic experience gives his work an international outlook, while Selca and Brač recur as places of personal memory.
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Croatia rediviva and linguistic fellowship
In 1991, he founded ‘Croatia rediviva’ in Selca. The gathering brings together poets writing in different Croatian dialects, and their texts are also preserved in selections called ‘Maslinov vijenac’ (‘Olive Wreath’). One of these selections includes Zlatan Jakšić and Vesna Parun. Their connection is documented through a shared literary programme and book.
