As a novelist, short-story writer, playwright, and essayist, Drago Jančar is a central figure in contemporary Slovenian literature. His writing has revealed an artistic power of formulating and expressing ideas that reach far beyond the spiritual and cultural sphere of his native country, making him the most translated Slovenian writer. His novels, essays and short stories have been translated into 21 languages and published in Europe, Asia and the United States. His dramas have also been staged by a number of foreign theatres, while back home they are frequently considered the highlights of the Slovenian theatrical season.