Written by: Milica Bokšan
We have talked about various segments of Serbian culture.
Now, it’s time to talk about some of the most popular books in Serbian.
Serbian books from the list below are translated into several languages. You can read books in Serbian, English, or some other language simultaneously and learn Serbian this way!
Before you reach for any of these books, you should know that many are a unique historical monument, while others talk about important life topics.
So, don’t expect any light reading here!
But don’t worry, you will not be disappointed. On the contrary.
However, keep in mind that you need to have a higher level of Serbian to read them, just like with all good books written in their original language.
Okay, that being said, let’s start with this list of books in Serbian!
#1 Books in Serbian: Na Drini ćuprija (1945)
It’s probably no surprise why we placed this book first.
Ivo Andrić, the author of ‘The Bridge on The Drina’, is, as of the time of writing, the only writer from this region who has received the Nobel Prize.
This book is actually a historical chronicle about the town of Višegrad in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Ottomans built a bridge (by order of Mehmed Paša Sokolović, a Serb by birth) in Višegrad across the river Drina in the 16th century.
The novel spans several centuries, representing the cultural and historical changes in the region. The bridge is a silent witness to a complex Balkan history.
Despite widespread opinion, Andrić did not receive the Nobel Prize for this novel especially. He was awarded the prize for his entire literary creation, not an individual work.
This gives us a reason to mention some other books by this great writer:
- Travnička hronika (Bosnian Chronicle)
- Prokleta avlija (The Damned Yard)
- Znakovi pored puta (Signs by The Roadside)
#2 Books in Serbian: Derviš i smrt (1966)
‘Dervish and The Death’ is a novel written by Meša Selimović.
It tells the story of Ahmed Nurudin. The protagonist is a dervish who struggles with various philosophical questions, such as justice, faith, and power.
All of this comes to his mind because his brother Harun was unfairly imprisoned by the Ottomans.
The plot is set in the 18th century in Bosnia. Even if you know nothing about Balkan history, the moral dilemmas of the protagonist are relatable to readers from any place and time.
Meša Selimović received numerous awards for this novel.
As well as the novel ‘The Bridge on the Drina’, ‘Dervish and the Death’ is also included in the compulsory reading list in all Serbian schools.
Besides this novel, it is important to mention Selimović’s other novel, Tvrđava (The Fortress).
#3 Books in Serbian: Gorski vijenac (1847)
‘The Mountain Wreath’ is an epic poem written in verse by Petar II Petrović Njegoš.
It represents one of the capital works of Serbian and Montenegrin literature.
Although the novel is about a true event – the investigation of poturica (poturica is a colloquial expression for a convert to Islam at the time of the Turkish conquest of Europe, i.e. the rule of the Ottoman Empire.).
The value of ‘The Mountain Wreath’ is in the important messages that this novel brings. In other words, ‘The Mountain Wreath’ is also a philosophical work that talks about human courage, honour, and the fight for freedom.
It is important to mention that many quotes from the novel are still used. This is not surprising considering that there is great wisdom behind these quotes.
Here are some such quotes:
- Kome zakon leži u topuzu,
Tragovi mu smrde nečovještvom.
(‘To whom the law lies in the mace,
His tracks reek of inhumanity.’)
Explanation: These verses were addressed to the Ottoman Empire. It means that the one who commits violence and spreads fear in order to achieve something actually has no human value in him.
- Tvrd je orah voćka čudnovata,
Ne slomih ga, al’ zube polomi!
(‘A hard nut is a strange fruit,
You won’t crack it, but you’ll break your teeth.’)
Explanation: This saying is actually Bishop Danilo’s response to the insult of Selim the Vizier, who demanded the non-recognition and surrender of Montenegro. The fact that something seems small doesn’t necessarily mean that it isn’t powerful.
This book is quite challenging language-wise, so we recommend saving it as the last one to read from this list.
By the way, Petar II Petrović Njegoš is on the Serbian 20-dinar bill, and he was a Prince-Bishop of Montenegro.
#4 Books in Serbian: Hazarski rečnik (1984)
‘Dictionary of the Khazars’ is written by Milorad Pavić. It is a novel written in the form of a dictionary.
Besides its specific structure, it is also interesting that you can read it in any order you want!
The book consists of three parts called ‘The Red Book’, ‘The Green Book’ and ‘The Yellow Book’.
You can start from the end of the novel, from the middle, or you can search for a specific term and read what is written about it in each of the three parts.
All three books tell the story of Khazars. The Khazars were a powerful tribe that had disappeared suddenly. Three parts of the book are Islamic, Christian, and Jewish theories on the Khazar issue.
Allegedly, there are over two million ways to read the Khazarian dictionary!
This novel is about the disappearance of a civilization, but also about the secrets and feelings of man.
#5 Books in Serbian: Rani jadi (1970)
The full title of this book by Danila Kiša is Rani jadi: Za decu i osetljive (= Early Sorrows: For Children and Sensitive Readers).
It is a collection of stories that show the personal development path of the boy Andreas Sam. Each story is unique, touching, and full of emotions. These stories will hardly leave any reader indifferent.
This book was also published in English a long time ago, so you can read it simultaneously with the original in Serbian. Or you can just take a book in Serbian and use a Serbian-English dictionary to help you through it.
Other books for learning Serbian
If you like learning Serbian using books, there is one more option for you.
Check out Serbian-level books called Idemo dalje. For now, 4 different books for beginners follow levels from A1 to B1.
All of these books contain short texts written in both Latin and Cyrillic.
They are a great way to learn Serbian vocabulary, reading, and writing. You can also practice reading the Cyrillic alphabet!
Conclusion
We have to say that the list of the most popular books in Serbian could be much longer. In this article, we mentioned only a few of the most famous works that have been translated into many languages.
The value of these books is reflected in the fact that each of them represents a testimony of a certain time and deals with crucial human issues.
By reading these books, you will not only learn the Serbian language but also learn a lot about Serbian history and culture.
Of course, it takes time to read books in Serbian. You require a high level.
Until then, read in easy Serbian with one of our Serbian online courses. There are different options so you can choose the one that suits you!
Enjoy learning Serbian!
