ABOUT ALEKSANDAR TIŠMA – LITERATURE REVIEW AND PERSONAL ACCOUNT. Extracts from observations and memories
ABOUT ALEKSANDAR TIŠMA – LITERATURE REVIEW AND PERSONAL ACCOUNT. Extracts from observations and memories

Summary/Abstract: Of all the Serbian authors I wrote about most often in the last decade, as a critic and essayist, Aleksandar Tišma takes the place of honor. The majority of my published texts were about his work, either as direct literature reviews or analytical observations more general in nature. The reasons for this tendency are quite understandable: above all, they lie in my convictions regarding Tišma’s literary writing, the profile and scope of his works of prose, and also, the incentive to enhance the quality, variety and reception of Serbian literature today. Others are more circumstantial: for the most part, the period of my critical and essayistic ambitions coincides with the most significant phases of Tišma’s creative work. I had the opportunity, which now I am convinced was a great privilege, to participate in many discussions on Tišma’s books – and I mean literature meetups, book promotions and cultural events which Tišma, as the author, attended – and judging by my journal entries (published and, more often, unpublished), I am even prepared to claim that I have participated in all discussions on Tišma’s books of prose, beginning with the novel Following the Black-Haired Girl, written in 1969, and not only in Belgrade and Novi Sad but also in many other cities across our (I should add: former) country. Instead of citing information about my participation, on several occasions, indecisions to award Tišma, as well as the decision to publish his collection of works, I would much rather present, at least in short outlines, a testimony about Tišma from literature meetups. Unlike many of our other authors, Tišma was unpredictable and whimsical during his exchanges with the readers: one never knew when he was going to be talkative, friendly and receptive to his audience, even confidingly open, and when ill-humored and withdrawn, or headstrong and derisive. On his travels, visits to hotels, while sitting in taverns, during meals and on his walks – in other words, activities that have always been and still are a part of the décor of the writers’ lifestyle and the writers’ dramaturgy in our parts – he was usually more interested in details and people who, at least at that moment, spoke more about life and in the name of life, than about literature and in the name of literature.

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