Milorad Pavić
Milorad Pavić was a notable Serbian writer, born in 1929 in Belgrade, Yugoslavia (now Serbia). Coming from a family with a strong literary background—his mother taught philosophy and many of his ancestors were recognized writers—Pavić had a passion for writing from a young age. He pursued higher education, obtaining a Ph.D. in literary history from the University of Zagreb and later teaching in prestigious institutions including the Sorbonne. His literary career began with the publication of his first poetry collection, "Palimpsesti," in 1967; however, he gained significant acclaim for his groundbreaking novel, "Hazarski recnik" (Dictionary of the Khazars), published in 1984. Pavić's work is characterized by its innovative narrative techniques and exploration of themes related to identity and history. Throughout his career, he received numerous accolades, including a nomination for the Nobel Prize in Literature, and he was elected to the Serbian Academy of Arts and Sciences. Pavić's unique perspective and contributions to literature have made him a significant figure in the literary world, despite his own acknowledgment of belonging to a nation often viewed with disdain.
On this Page
Subject Terms
Milorad Pavić
Author
- Born: October 15, 1929
- Birthplace: Belgrade, Yugoslavia (now in Serbia and Montenegro)
- Died: November 30, 2009
Biography
Milorad Pavić was born in 1929 in Belgrade, Yugoslavia (now part of Serbia). His father was a builder who sculpted and painted in his spare time, and his mother taught philosophy. Many of his ancestors were well-known writers, and writing was something he had wanted to do since childhood. Pavić also grew up playing the violin and considered a career as a soloist.
He graduated from the University of Belgrade and went on to receive a Ph.D. in literary history from the University of Zagreb. Pavić taught at the Sorbonne, and lectured at Novi Sad, Freiburg, Regensburg, and in Belgrade. He married the writer and literary critic Jasmina Mihajilovic.
Pavić’s first collection of poetry, Palimpsesti, was published in 1967. He is best known for his first novel, Hazarski recnik (dictionary of the Khazars), which was first published in 1984. Pavić was elected to the Serbian Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1991, and was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature. In interviews, Pavić stated that he is the “best known writer of the most hated nation in the world.”