BRITISH QUEEN DECORATES SONIA WILD BICANIC AND CHRIS CVIIC

ZAGREB, Dec 30 (Hina) - Britain's Queen Elisabeth II has bestowed an award on a university professor, Sonia Wild Bicanic, for her efforts to promote the cultural ties between the United Kingdom and Croatia, read a statement released by the "Durieux" publishing house on Saturday. Sonia Wild Bicanic, born in Great Britain in 1920, was educated in the United States. At the end of Second World War she arrived in Zagreb, together with her husband, well-known Croatian writer and politician - Rudolf Bicanic. She is a professor at the English Department of the Faculty of Philosophy in Zagreb. Besides, she translates from Croatian into English. In 1999, the "Durieux" published her memoirs, the title of which in Croatian is "Dvije Linije Zivota ('Two Lines of the Life' in an unofficial translation)". This house together with the Croatian branch of the PEN issued the English original version of the memoirs. Commenting on the book which achieved great success, Peter Palmer, a British historian, wrote that it was a deeply personal depiction that portrayed the author's life experience in two countries (Croatia and Great Britain). According to him, it is a story about ordinary lives but also an insight into fascinating times and fascinating people. Apart from Mrs. Wild Bicanic, a famous Croatian essayist and journalist, Chris Cviic, was also decorated this year by the same award for his endeavours to promote democracy in eastern Europe. (hina) ms