1966
Death and the Dervish
Meša Selimović · 1910–1982 · Bosnia
Originally Derviš i Smrt (Serbo-Croatian)
Why it matters
An Ottoman-era Sufi sheikh is drawn into political intrigue after his brother's unjust arrest, testing his faith against power and complicity. Bosnia's greatest novel, and a philosophical study of conscience under any totalitarian pressure.
At a glance
philosophical novelhistorical fictionpsychological novel
Difficulty 6/10slow pace384 pagesMeditative, first-person philosophical narration slows a tense political plot.
Deep dive
An Ottoman-era Sufi sheikh's philosophy of detachment gets tested against the very worldly, very bureaucratic machinery of power once someone he loves needs saving from it.
Where to go next
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