Duše robova

by Ivan Aralica

Dobro i zlo, sloboda i ropstvo, prijateljstvo i mržnja u godinama rata i godinama mira.

Pripovjedajući o vremenu mletačko-turskog rata s početka 18. stoljeća autor nam kazuje priču o očuvanju identiteta, snošljivosti i ekumeni: dva čovjeka iz puka - kršćanin Matija Grabovac i musliman Mesud Zunić - izgrađuju postojano prijateljstvo usprkos vjerskim i civilizacijskim razlikama.
Ova priča o vlasti i tlačenju, u kojoj bi robovi trebali prodavati robove, svojevrsni je nastavak romana Put bez sna.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Novels, Fiction

371 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1984

About the author

Born in Promina near Knin, and having finished pedagogical school and Philosophical Faculty at the University of Zadar, Aralica had worked in post-war period as a high school teacher in the backwater villages of the rural hinterland of northern and central Dalmatia. After a period of Communist infatuation (which resulted in a few weak novellas that can be labeled as socialist realism period pieces), Aralica was swept into the vortex of turbulent events known as the “Croatian spring” (1971). During this tumultuos era he allied with those who advocated greater Croatian autonomy and freedom for Croatian people in Communist Yugoslavia. The crackdown on the Croatian national movement and subsequent professional and social degradation resulted in Aralica’s return to his Christian and Catholic roots, abandonment of doctrinaire propagandist literature and formation of his own literary credo. Among world authors, he was influenced chiefly by realist fiction and early Modernism, the key authors being Ivo Andrić, Thomas Mann and Knut Hamsun.

From 1979 to 1989 Aralica published eight novels, which can be best described as modernist rewritings of historical fiction. The best among them (Psi u trgovištu/Dogs in a bazaar, 1979; Duše robova/Slaves’ souls, 1984; Graditelj svratišta/Builder of an inn, 1986; Asmodejev šal/Asmodey’s shawl, 1988) show similar traits: these are essentially novels of complex narrative techniques recreating dramatic events in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina from 16th to 18th century and describing historical fatum of Croats caught in the “clash of civilizations”- a three centuries long warfare between Austria, the Ottoman Empire and Venice. Aralica successfully mastered many divergent elements in his fiction, so that his finest novels are both replete with contemplative wisdom sayings on human condition and rammed with action; also, his artistry is expressed in numerous naturalist passages integrated in the overarching Christian vision of life where natural and the supernatural fuse into one reality.

After the democratic changes in Croatia and the collapse of Yugoslavia, Aralica was elected to the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts; also, he re-entered politics, this time on the list of Croatian Democratic Union (Hrvatska demokratska zajednica/HDZ), a party headed by the independent Croatia’s first president Franjo Tudjman. Aralica held a few influential positions, the most important among them being vice-president of Croatian Parliament. During this period he wrote two books of political essays (one about the genesis of Serbian imperialism, the other on historical complexities of the conflict in Bosnia and Herzegovina), and two other novels.

The year 2000 was another turning point for Aralica: his party, HDZ, lost the elections and power, and writer was embroiled in a bitter polemic with new authorities (which were to hold power in next four years). Aralica then started writing satirical novels of ideas (novels with keys, i.e. thinly disguised quasi-faction). Most famous one is “Fukara”/Good for nothing, 2002, a satirical-political attack on multiculturalist ideology as promulgated by controversial American billionaire George Soros. The literary value of his works published during this period was often disputed, and they were seen by many left-wing literary critics (Perišić, Jergović, Tagirov, Alajbegović) as little more than tasteless political pamphlets. However, Aralica has also become one of the cultural and intellectual icons of the rigid conservatism in Croatia, advocating the return to the tradition symbolized by "ognjište" (hearth). Intellectuals on the Right defended his novels claiming that they were brilliant political satires.

Still vigorously writing in his eight decade, Aralica is considered as one of the best Croatian novelists of the 2nd half of the 20th century.

Reviews

[Bruno · Rating 3 out of 5]

CRO/ENG
Svakako nisam očekivao poteškoće u čitanju, dajući si pritom vremena i posvećenosti ovom djelu, ali čini se kako hodam kroz maglu. Najveći problem mi izazivaju nepovezanost radnji između poglavlja i suhoparno opisivanje sa detaljima, koja me uspavljuju, što mi nije drago, jer to znači da se samo forsiram, bez razumijevanja barem 40% knjige. Dok pohvala ide na račun autora za njegov rad kroz praćenje prepoznatljivog uzorka (povijesni kontekst, međuljudski odnos kakav bi postojao među onima koji su uvučeni u sukob, narodne priče i specifičnosti podneblja) i fokusa na drugu tematiku (ropstvo), u odnosu na prethodnu knjigu (ovo je direktni nastavak ''Puta bez sna'', stoga treba prvo treba pročitati taj naslov), toliko stječem dojam kako ga je malo razvukao za svoje dobro, u smislu da bi ga mogao skratiti za trećinu. Ne vjerujem da bih propustio mnogo, ali bi me držalo zainteresiranim. Priznajem, u ovo sam se upustio na temelju činjenice kako i autor, i djelo predstavljaju ono najbolje što naša književnost nudi iz 20. stoljeća, dok si nisam želio upropastiti svoje viđenje čitanjem sažetaka ili istraživanjem što ovaj roman obrađuje. Recimo da mi je ostavilo slatko gorki okus u ustima i da će biti potrebna revizija cijelog književnog opusa, što ću ostaviti za neodređeno buduće razdoblje, s obzirom da mi je raspored bookiran za narednih nekoliko godina.

I definitely didn't expect difficulties in reading, giving myself time and dedication to this work, but it seems that I'm traversing through fog. The biggest problem to my presents disconnection of the plots between chapters and dry descriptions with details, that put me into sleep, which I don't like, because it means that I only force myself, without understanding 40% of the book. While praise goes for author's work through following the recognizable pattern (historical context, interhuman relationships that would have exist between those who are dragged into the conflict, traditional stories and specifics of surrounding areas) and the focus on it's main theme (slavery), in contrast to his previous title (this is a direct sequel to ''Road without dreams'', so you should read that title first), I get the notion that he dragged it a little bit for his own good, in a sense that it could be a one third short. I don't believe that I would miss much, while being interested. I admit, I've ventured into this on the basis of fact that this author, as well as the work, represent the best what our literature offers from 20th century, while I didn't want to spoil my view by reading summaries or investigating what does this novel revolve around. Let's say that it left a sweet sour taste in my mouth and that it's gonna be needed a revision of entire literature work, which I'll left for an unknown future period, since my schedule is booked for the next couple of years.

[Marina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Svida mi se njegovo pripovijedanje. U pocetku je bilo teze poceti citati, ima puno likova, radnja se prekida s pricama iz proslosti i slicno. Ali poruke, cesto skrivene izmedu redaka, su odlicne.
Omiljeni citat, pri samom kraju knjige:
"Zato neznalice propoijedaju sumnjicavost i vjeruju da time brane pobratimstvo, a zapravo potpiruju niske strasti, a pametni ljudi zagovaraju snosljivost, povjerenje, strpljivost i postivanje drugog i razlicitog, jer se jedino na tomu moze zasnivati suzivot ljudi razlicita porijekla i drukcijih uvjerenja."

[Marin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ako želite saznati pravu istinu o bitci za Sinj 1715 i ulozi meke stolice u ratovanju. Vjerovali ili ne, Aralica je zapravo sjajan razbijač nacionalističkih mitova. Uz to i dobar, dobar pripovjedač...

[majstoricamagije · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like Aralica, and this book is one of his best.

[Travno2000 · Rating 4 out of 5]

jako jako zanimljiv roman!!!

[ZKM_ZG · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok na plaži

[Lidija Pavec · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ono, nije loše, ai nije mi super super.

[Pavle Ole Jeličić · Rating 5 out of 5]

U romanu Duše robova opisana je sudbina Matije Grabovca tijekom mletačko – turskog rata od 1714. – 1718. godine.

[Glass · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ovu sam knjigu pročitala samo zato što sam morala - imala sam nekakav glupi referat. Užasna je!