ENGLISH
SPECIAL EDITION OF FRENCH MAGAZINE DEDICATED TO MILORAD PAVIĆ
The March edition of the magazine Serbica, issued by Université Michel de Montaigne – Bordeaux 3, has published a special edition (dossier) dedicated to Milorad Pavic, under the title „The first writer of the XXI century“ (Le premier écrivain XXIe du siècle). At www.serbica.fr, besides extracts from four Pavić books and Autobiographies, which is translated by Marija Bezanovska, it’s been published a significant number of other articles: two essays on the Dictionary of the Khazars, written by academics in France, Sanja Boskovic and Boris Lazic, two interviews with Pavic, two stories of prof. Milivoj Srebro – a portrait of the writer and the study of the reception Dictionary of the Khazars in the Franch speaking area, and the text of the French critic Nicole Casanova on the Inner Side of the Wind. The thematic article includes a detailed bibliography of Pavic’s books translated in French and a list of published articles on the writer in the French newspapers and periodicals.
So far, eight Pavic’s books are translated in France, while currently publisher Lièvre Lunaire prepares bibliophile edition of several Pavic’s stories. Milorad Pavic was a guest of the famous Bernard Pivot in his cult show Apostrophe, the play Dictionary of the Khazars was performed at castles around France, while publisher Belfond is largely responsible for the planetary fame of Dictionary of the Khazars.
Dictionary of the Khazars – Theatrical spectacle in Poland
Theatrical spectactacle Dictionary of the Khazars: Children of Dreams, (Słownik Chazarski. Dzieci Snów) based on Milorad Pavic’s novel, had a premiere in Poland on 11th February. Directed by Paweł Passini, show is performed on three stages including interaction with the audience, which had to decide which version to view: „Male“, „Female“ or „Dream Hunters“. It is an ambitious project, experimental theater, generating excitement both in the audience and among critics.
So far, the dramatizations of Dictionary of the Khazars, Pavic’s famous novel, were staged in various theaters in Russia, Germany, America, Czech Republic, Slovenia and France.
Interview with Jasmina Mihajlovic
The Ukrainian weekly „Mirror of the week“, which is published in Russian also, was released an extensive interview with Jasmina Mihajlovic, writer, widow of Milorad Pavic, its copyright holder and legal trustee of the Milorad Pavic Foundation – whose founder is the Belgrade City Assembly. The conversation in Belgrade led by professor. Dr. Sergiy Kurbatov, a lecturer at universities in Ukraine, Sweden and the United States.
Milorad Pavić – TWO YEARS LATER: Translation, editions and theatre performances
In 2010. and 2011. around the world have emerged new or restored editions of books by Milorad Pavić. There are some twenty new translations. Thus in Russia were republished novels Landscape Painted with Tea, Inner Side of the Wind, Last Love in Constantinople, Writing box, Star Cape, Second body and collection of short stories Multicoloured eyes. In America within Kindl electronic editions on amazon.com appeared Unique Item, Blue book and Second body. Also in the fall is expected to be released brand new multimedia edition of Dictionary of the Khazars, which now will be available worldwide in digital form.
Slovaks in „Slovart“ publishing house printed Landscape Painted with Tea and Fake Mole. Greeks have published collection of stories Two fans from Galata, and in Vilnius, in Lithuania was published Dictionary of the Khazars. Azerbaijan has released Dictionary of the Khazars, jubilee edition, with a picture of the monument dedicated to Milorad Pavić in Tašmajdan park.
Georgians in Tbilisi were released Inner Side of the Wind and Dictionary of the Khazars, while the Turks revamped Dictionary of the Khazars by printing it now as an androgynous edition (jointed male and female sample) with a preface of the author.
Diverting is the emergence of Dictionary of the Khazars in Indonesia, who was accompanied by tempestuous literary piracy story.
In Serbia, toward Pavić’s books appears to be completely different phenomenon. Due to the inappropriate length of the probate discussion caused by the reform of the judicature, so far only new edition of Short history of Belgrade and Pavić’s translation of Pushkin „Eugene Onegin“ was published, while for the october Book Fair finally will appear Dictionary of the Khazars, Inner Side of the Wind and Second body, published by the Institute for textbook publishing and teaching aids the novels which aren’t present in native language for over a year!
Similar Serbo-global situation appears to be going with the Pavić’s posthumous theatrical life. He is immanent everywhere, except in Serbia. In 2010. and 2011. were played premieres in Moscow, Bucharest and Prijedor. Moscow, in the form of musical drama performed Bed for three, in Bucharest Mik Theatre dramatized the Star Cape, while Gradimir Gojer, director from Sarajevo, in Prijedor theater set a play named Petkutin and Kalina – Play Pavich, based on the dramatization of the entire Pavić’s literary work.
Intriguing is Russian multimedia project Dictionary of the Khazars – live, presented at the All-Russian Festival of Science in Moscow this year. This is the concept of approaching the novel from the modern maze standpoint which includes architecture, computer games, theater, film, museum approach etc.. See: „Живой Хазарский Словарь“
Facsimile of the Milorad Pavic’s handwriting „Dictionary of the Khazars“ gifted to the Republic of the Azerbaijan
At the opening ceremony of Embassy of the Republic of the Azerbaijan 8th June 2011. in Belgrade, Milorad Pavic’s Bequest an Foundation gave to the city of Baku facsimile of the manuscript „Dictionary of the Khazars“. A facsimile is handed to the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, in the presence of Serbian and Azerbaijani Foreign Minister, numerous guests, representatives of the clergy and diplomatic corps.
The text on the facsimile:
Milorad Pavić
Dictionary of the Khazars
Unique facsimil of the original manuscript „Dictionary of the Khazars“ written by Serbian author Milorad Pavic. It owns only Baku. The original is in Belgrade. In a sign of deepest gratitude to the people of Azerbaijan State, on behalf of Milorad Pavic’s Bequest gave Jasmina Mihajlovic.
Belgrade, Serbia, 8 June 2011. on the official opening ceremony of the Milorad Pavic’s monument in the Tasmajdan Park, work of sculptor Natigu Aliyev.
Unveiled a monument dedicated to Milorad Pavic
In the newly reconstructed Tasmajdan park 8th June 2011, in downtown of Belgrade a monument dedicated to Milorad Pavic was unveiled . Monument was revealed by Serbian President Boris Tadic and President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.
Three meter high monument made of bronze plating is work of sculptor Natigu Aliyev, university profesor from Baku and member of Russian Academy of Arts.
On the occasion, special deluxe edition of Milorad Pavic’s Dictionary of the Khazars – translation on Azeri language was printed, with photography of the monument.
Milorad Pavić’s monument arrived from Azerbaijan
Ambassador of Azerbaijan Dr. Eldar Hasanov and Pavić’s wife Jasmina Mihajlović
On Friday 20th May through diplomatic cargo flight, bronze monument of Serbian writer Milorad Pavić arrived from Azerbaijan. Official unveiling ceremony will be arranged 8th June 2011. with Serbian President Boris Tadić, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Alijev and Pavić’s widow, writer Jasmina Mihajlović.
Monument dedicated to Milorad Pavić, work of university professor and sculptor from Baku – Natigu Alijev, is three meters high. It’s made of bronze plating, and have special seismic construction. Sculptor Alijev, in order to introduce with writer’s life and work besides photography, film and video, traveled to Moscow to see Pavić’s monument in the Alley of writers, the work of Russian sculptor Grigorij Potocki, which is set in the capital of Russia in 2008, during his lifetime.
Drama For Ever and A Day entitled Petkutin i Kalina performed in the Republika Srpska (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
In theater Prijedor (Republika Srpska) a play Petkutin i Kalina had its premiere on 7 May 2011th, by texts of Milorad Pavić and the adaptation of director Gradimir Gojer from Sarajevo. With the subtitle Play Pavich in the play are primarily used components of drama „A Theater Menu: For Ever and a Day“, but also excerpts from the novel „Dictionary of the Khazars „,“Landscape painted with tea“ and Milorad Pavić’s stories.
Piece „For Ever and a Day“ has so far played in Moscow (MHAT, 2002) and Macedonia (Bitola National Theatre, 2004). This is the first performance in the Serbian language. Drama was published in printed form in 1993rd.
Milorad Pavić on Amazon Kindle Reader
Earlier this May Jasmina Mihajlović a writer, who manages Milorad Pavić’s Bequest and Foundation held lecture in Institute for Literature and Arts, entitled „ M. Pavić novels on E-book Kindle reader“
At the University of Venice defended Master thesis on the M. Pavic’s work
Earlier this march at Venice University (Università Ca’Foscari di Venezia Facoltà di Lingue e Letterature Straniere), Bojana Marcello Grimani defended the Master thesis entitled THE POETICS OF FICTION. IN GAP OF TIME AND SPACE IN MILORAD PAVIC’S WORK (POETIKA FANTASTIČNOG U RASKORAKU VREMENA I PROSTORA U DELIMA MILORADA PAVIĆA). Her mentor was Ch. mo. Prof. Alexander Naumow and assistant Dott. ssa Aleksandra Mladenovic. Bojana Marcello is also actively engaged in translation, so the story „The Wedgwood Tea Set“, M. Pavic (on which basis TV Belgrade twenty years ago filmed the drama, whose motive is also used for movie Byzantine Blue), can now be read in translation to Italian Il servizio da tè Wedgwood. This Pavic’s story has been translated as part of its collections of stories in about 30 languages, except Italian. In such a way Bojana Marcelo’s venture represents as curiosity.
The memorial plate dedicated to Milorad Pavić at the University of Novi Sad
The memorial plate dedicated to Milorad Pavić was announced on February 21st, at the University of Novi Sad, Serbia. In the memory of the famous Serbian writer and author of the world bestselling “Dictionary of the Khazars” memorial plate was placed at the entrance of the Central reading room of University library, which will in future carry the name of Milorad Pavić. Besides the epochal novel-lexicon that brought him a nomination for the Nobel Prize for Literature, Pavić wrote numerous books, of which almost all were translated into 35 languages in 156 edition so far. Pavić was also very prominent in scientific research and education. He was a professor of Serbian literature at University of Novi Sad (1974-1990), as well the dean of the faculty (1977-1979). The leading Serbian writer of the epoch, translator, literary historian and member of the Serbian Academy of Arts and Sciences died in 2009 in Belgrade, 80 year old.
http://www.b92.net/kultura/vesti.php?nav_category=272&yyyy=2011&mm=02&dd=21&nav_id=494285
Milorad Pavić’s eBooks
24. October 2010. On September 2010, „Kindle editions“ (Kindle Edition) Library on Amazon.com website, published three e-books of Milorad Pavic in English: The Second body, Unique Item and Blue Book (100 different endings of the novel Unique Item). Pavic is the first Serbian writer whose e-titles took their place in this virtual library with more than 490,000 titles. At the same time Milorad Pavic is a writer who supported internet and electronic form of publishing, for almost a decade. Kindle reader is lighter than a mobile phone, it can fit about 35,000 books, wireless download of individual titles takes about a minute, is easy to handle, has the option for changing the font type and size, the screen has no reflection, and the whole device has a thickness of 3mm and it’s about medium-sized book.
In Brazil PUBLISHED STRIP by motives Dictionary of the Khazars
Brazilian literary magazine RASCUNHO (July 2010) published panel comic strip by „Dictionary of the Khazars“. It is an illustration dictionary entries Aksana, Jabir Ibn from the Green book. The author is a famous Brazilian illustrator Ramon Muniz. In Serbia, the first strip by motives Pavić’s prose appeared as a separate Serbian-English edition (color album) called the Third argument, 1995. Comic book author is Zoran Tucić and writer is Zoran Stefanović.
Ω
Milorad Pavić
THE EPILOGUE
Never more
The Raven
If you were to buy me once more
A notebook with pages blank and unlined
Perhaps I would finally be able
To write you a love letter
The last instead of the first
*
I was happy, but did not know it,
You were unhappy, but did not know it.
When we realized, it was too late
Forever for me, but not for you
But you did not know that either
*
At „Ljubić’s“ we dined on
Veal with baked vegetables
You sat unhappy and healthy
And I happy and ill
In the mirror behind you
The cars and people going down the street
Were going up the street
*
For my birthday you bought me a book
I read it with your eyes
Watching out for the parts in it
That you might appreciate
For me books are no more
*
There are people that hate us immensely
And others that love us well
I am used to that; you are not
I count only the second,
But you, only the first.
*
You are clairvoyant, you see the future better
Not I, I more clearly see the past
You think only of the past
I dream only of the future
Perhaps we all want what we do not have
*
A woman once foretold us
The future would not resemble the past
I do not believe in that prophecy
On your parasol I wrote
All the lovely days of our past
All the gloomy days of our past
You wrote onto my umbrella
You do not believe that prophecy either
*
An ancient man once wrote
I cannot live with you or without you
When I read that I said
How beautifully this is put
Today I could not care less how it is put
Now I know it to be true
*
In youth the body is before the spirit
In old age the spirit is before the body
I know that both in work and in love
I seized the moment
When the spirit and body were equal
And now it is as it must be
*
You were young, beautiful and talented
I was happy because of your talent
You were unhappy because of my talent
Which left no time for the two of us
While I thought that talent did not count the years
*
I said that books are our children
When they are ready they will spread their wings and fly
When that happened our children spread their wings and flew
When that happened our books spread their wings and flew
Now our house is without the mortar that binds
*
A Russian man says that time
Stands still in matter and flows in energy
I think that our Now, our life
Is born at the intersection of eternity and time
You say that only for four more years
You will be able to wear pretty dresses
(These unpublished verses were written in October and November 2009. Some of them in hospital.) (note by Jasmina Mihajlović)
Lecture on the Work of Milorad Pavić held at the Segedin University
March 27th 2010.At the Faculty of Philology at the Segedin University, Jasmina Mihajlović held two lectures on the life and work of Milorad Pavić, on March 25th and 26th. One of the lectures was part of the doctoral program for Russian literature and culture, and the other was for the students of Serbistics. Doctoral candidate Turi Robert is preparing a thesis on the complete work of Milorad Pavić. The doctoral thesis will be published in the form of a monograph in Hungarian.
Sad Passing of Academician Milorad Pavić
Milorad Pavić die Novembre 30rd 2009. “I entered into literature on my own, I live in it on my own and I shall depart from it on my own when the time comes,” said this famous writer. Academician and author Milorad Pavić, professor of the Faculty of Philosophy of the Belgrade University, passed away yesterday of complications following a heart attack at the age of 80. Pavić was one of the most translated Serbian authors, primarily thanks to his “Dictionary of the Khazars”, which gained popularity throughout the world. The Serbian Academy of Arts and Sciences has announced that the funeral will be held on Thursday, December 3rd, at 12 noon at the Novo Groblje cemetery in Belgrade. x x x Milorad Pavić (1929-2009), author of cult novels “Dictionary of the Khazars”, “Landscape Painted with Tea”, “Inner Side of the Wind”, “Writing Box”, “Star Cape”, “Unique Item”, “The Tale that Killed Emily Knorr”, “Fake Mole”, collection of stories “Iron Curtain”, “The Horses of Saint Mark”, “Borzoi”, “New Tales from Belgrade”, “Souls are Bathing for the Last Time”, and a series of other books – his literary creation included lexicon-novels, crosswords, tarot cards, the discovery of antique writing boxes, he interpreted astrological signes, passed from life to death, from wake to sleep, from the real to the unreal. The nether world was what interested him the most. The nether world, he said, is a part of our life, except we forgot that long ago. Onlz artists, women and the Church are, perhaps, aware of this. He wrote poems, stories, novels, essays, studies in the history of literature, plays, translated Pushkin and Lord Byron. He became a regular member of the Serbian Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1991. He was member of the European Association for Culture and the Serbian PEN Center. “Dictionary of the Khazars” was the first book that could be read on a computer, in the order it was presented, but in any other order as well. The readers could choose a term and the path by which to reach the end of the novel. Pavić realized in time that the end of literature as we had known it for a long time had come. Images, sounds, signs, compete successfully with the linearity of language, which makes it akin to a slow train. So he tried to create non-linear writing in his books, a writing closer to “the blossoming of the thoughts and dreams of man” and less dependent on the chronological stringing of words into sentences. Thus the striving to, relying on the initiative of the reader, create new forms of reading, and writing as well. Thus his striving to create a novel-dictionary, a novel-crossword puzzle, a novel-clepsydra, a fortune-telling novel, or a novel for those unfamiliar with astrology, an interactive play in the form of a theater menu, an interactive story in which the readers choose their own path. In such striving, he explained, he was assisted by the readers. Primarily by female readers, since they have a different way of perceiving his books, since they are unburdened by the epic past. In the 20th century he became the author of the 21st century: “Some critics, such as Lance Olsen, think so. Others, such as Alexander Genis, think I have tried to go as far as possible into the past, towards ancient literary lore. In any case, I entered into literature on my own, I live in it on my own and I shall depart from it on my own when the time comes. As for the future, I do now know what will become of the book and of literature. Perhaps it will return to its epic, oral, pre-Guttenberg form, in a manner that we can hardly imagine. In any case, it can already be sensed today that the book and its global reputation will not be the same in the 21st century as in the past one, although only a few years separate us from this past.” He was the first among Serbian authors to have his own website, books without covers, which are read on a computer. That is why he said that the book must change and adapt to the future, which is merciless as all futures have been. Reading is doubtlessly becoming just as important as writing. He was the first to write a novel-sea. But the reader need not know how to swim to be able to read it. The novel “Unique Item” is a novel with a hundred different endings. He liked to cooperate with his readers, for there are, he used to say, more gifted readers than there are gifted writers. His heroes were also perfumes, or identifying coupons of the protagonists, but also weapons of death and crime. It is well known who has the sharpest nose – the Foul Fiend. He directs and plans his murders by smell. In his novels dreams are sold and purchased. The ones as yet undreamed, telling of your future, are the most expensive. Mankind is, after all, more gifted in sleep than in waking hours. He claimed that the borders between genres were becoming extinct, that the contemporary novel, read on a computer, should not be more than fifty pages long. In the novel “The Tale that Killed Emily Knorr” storytelling (the story) kills the listener (the reader). Thus literature, with Pavić, becomes dangerous to the reader. “In this book the author is accused of being able to kill with a story. Off course this is not possible, but when the world wants to make somebody look bad (which is something that, here in Serbia, we have witnessed directly), then all means are used. In my novel the story is, after all, able to kill. It can kill the one that created it, that is to say – its writer.”
Zoran Radisavljević. “Politika”, Belgrade, December 1st 2009
The New York Times – Milorad Pavic, Serbian Author of Novel Novels, Dies at 80 Fantasy Book Critic – Milorad Pavic, Famous Serbian Author of Experimental Fiction Dies at Age 80
The Guardian – Milorad Pavic Obituary
MONUMENT TO MILORAD PAVIĆ IN MOSCOW
A monument to Serbian writer Milorad Pavić was unveiled on June 24th 2009 in Moscow, in front of the “Library of Foreign Languages”. This bronze bust by famous Russian sculptor Grigori Potocki has been erected on the green in front of the library, alongside monuments to other foreign writers from Dante onwards. On the occasion of this honor Milorad Pavić said the following: “I would not be where I am today had it not been for Russian readers and my books and plays in the Russian language. In the days when I was not yet translated into Russian, Russian readers used to come to the “Library of Foreign Languages” and read my prose in the original, or various translations. So I was told once when Jasmina Mihajlović, my wife, and I came to Moscow on the occasion of the staging of one of my play. That is why this bust is here today, before the ”Library of Foreign Languages”, to which I am therefore doubly grateful. “The monument is here because of my books, which were published in Russian by many, whom I would now like to mention, and also to thank the magazine “Inostranaya Literatura”, renewed magazine “Yasnaya Polyana” published by the Tolstoy museum in Yasnaya Polyana, publishers “Amphora”, “Azbooka” and “ZebraE”, as well as the Russian theaters that staged and are still showing my interactive plays. These are: Moskovski hudozhestveni teatar of Chekhov, LENSOV in St. Petersburg, theaters in Voronezh and Prokopyevsk and others from Moscow to Siberia. I would also like to thank the directors of my plays, as well as the actors and the publishers who recorded some of my novels on CD “Audiobooks”. Without my fabulous translators Ms. Larissa Savelieva and Ms. Nataliya Vagapova my prose and my plays would not have appeared in the Russian language. Finally, I owe special gratitude to the Russian newspapers and magazines, the Russian internet, television and radio, to Russian slavists and literary and theatrical critics who paid considerable attention to my work. Thanks to famous Russian sculptor Grigori Potocki, who came to Belgrade with his wife several years ago and there created my portrait, which is before you now, I can say that I have received during my lifetime more than many do not receive even after death. Thank you all.”
FOREIGN EDITIONS
More than 100 translations of Milorad Pavić’s books have been published in the 21st century. View partial list of books and web gallery with book covers of foreign editions.
MILORAD PAVIĆ’S NEW NOVEL „SECOND BODY“ ON THE WEB
Milorad Pavić’s new novel “Second Body” is being translated into ten or so different languages. The English translation by Dragana Rajkov is now being posted in sequels on the English page of this web site. Readers in the English language will have one of the five chapters of the novel at their disposal every Monday. After five weeks they will have completed the novel “Second Body”. Readers in Serbian, Russian, Polish and soon in Greek, Spanish, Slovakian, Bulgarian and Romanian have or will have the new novel by Milorad Pavić printed in their own language.
DOCTORAT HONORIS CAUSA TO MILORAD PAVIĆ
The Sofia University “Clement of Ohrid” has awarded in February of this year Doctorat Honoris Causa to Milorad Pavić by unanimous decision. The author has been invited by the rector of the university to receive this honorary title in Sofia.
„DICTIONARY OF THE KHAZARS“ AS E-BOOK
Milorad Pavić’s novel „Dictionary of the Khazars“ was published as an e-book in Stockholm in 2005. This edition contains the Serbian original of this novel-lexicon, as well as translations of the novel into Swedish, English and Russian. The female version of the „Dictionary of the Khazars“ e-book can be ordered through Amazon here and the male version here at the price of $9 each.
„UNIQUE ITEM“, A DELTA- NOVEL by MILORAD PAVIC
The author of „Dictionary of the Khazars“ has once more found a new, as yet unseen type of literary play for you: a delta-novel! It’s a tale of love and a detective „multy-ending story“ that diverges into one hundred branches and leads you towards one hundred different endings. Each copy has a different end, and so your copy will differ from all other copies. Every reader obtains his personal one. You will have a UNIQUE ITEM!
Milorad Pavic (born 15. X 1929 in Belgrade, Serbia – Sign Libra, Ascendant Scorpio, Aztec horoscope, Serpent). Serbian prose writer and poet, historian of Serbian literature of XVII – XIX century, expert on Serbian Baroque and symbolistic poetry, translator of Pushkin and Byron, university professor (lectures at New Sorbonne, Vienna, Novi Sad, Freiburg, Regensburg, Belgrade), full Member of Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts (elected 1991). Is not a member of any political party. Pavic is a member of Société Européenne de Culture and of the International Council of the Moscow periodical „Inostrannaya Literatura“. Pavic is the author of novels, poetry, short stories and one play. Pavic’s work has had more than 80 translations (in separate books) in different languages through the world. Milorad Pavic was nominated for the Nobel prize in literature by experts in Europe, the USA and Brazil. His wife is Jasmina Mihajlovic, writer and literary critic. They live in Belgrade. mpavic@eunet.rs