Rade Kolbas

I was born and raised in Croatia, near the border with Bosnia and Serbia. My heritage is diverse—my mother’s side is Serbian, and my father’s side is Ruthenian. Growing up with my mom’s family, I developed a deep connection to Balkan culture. From an early age, I loved reading and writing. I was part of my school’s literature section and won an award in Croatia for the best essay in seventh grade. I often read books meant for adults, with favorites like Hemingway, Bukowski, Milorad Pavić, and Dostoevsky. In 1992, as the war in ex-Yugoslavia began, I moved to Germany as a refugee, where I learned German, now my second mother tongue. I use German daily in my work and life. English is my third language, and I’ve always been fascinated by English literature and culture, from British to American influences. I also speak Serbo-Croatian in its various forms (Bosnian, Montenegrin, Croatian, and Serbian) and have a strong understanding of Slovenian, North Macedonian, Bulgarian, and basic Italian. After a long career in IT as a product manager and marketing expert, I shifted my focus in 2022 to translating and publishing books. My work involves translating Serbian literature into German and English, as well as German works into English, with the aim of bridging cultural gaps. I’m especially passionate about helping the Serbian diaspora connect with their roots through translated works. I strive to preserve the authenticity of the original texts in my translations, avoiding heavy localization and including detailed footnotes to provide cultural and historical context. My translations often focus on fairy tales and folk stories, keeping them as true to their original forms as possible, offering readers an authentic glimpse into history and culture. Connecting cultures through translation has been the most fulfilling work of my life. My mission is to educate, inspire, and share these stories with the world while honoring their original essence.