Montenegro

by Milovan Djilas, Kenneth Johnstone (Translator)

Following his expulsion from the top rank of the Yugoslav Communist government, Milovan Djilas was imprisoned from 1956 to 1961. This is one of three books he wrote in prison. It is a remarkable story, being part history and part fiction, a blend of reality and legend. The ballad-like tone of Montenegro, with its deep and clear awareness that violence both destroys and heightens life, resembles Land Without Justice, the autobiography of Djilas's early years. [from the dust jacket]

Genres: Fiction

367 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1963

About the author

Milovan Đilas was a prolific political writer and former Yugoslav communist official remembered for his disillusionment with communism. Much of his work has been translated into English from Serbian. He was, above all, a literary artist. In several of his books, Djilas proclaimed himself a writer by vocation, and a politician only under the pressure of events.

Reviews

[Andrew Weitzel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel is in three parts:

Part One is an account of the Austro-Hungarian invasion of Montenegro during WWI. It focuses on the battle of Mojkovac, a bloody encounter that had the Montenegrin army acting as a human shield for the shattered Serbian forces trying to retreat to the coast. At Mojkovac, the Montenegrins were successful in halting the Austrian advance and allowing their allies to escape, but at great human cost. Đilas gives dramatized look at the thoughts and actions of the Montenegrin leadership at the time, which was split between parties supporting the existing monarchy and those looking to unite as one nation with Serbia.

Part Two is the story of three fictional political prisoners after Montenegro had fallen to Austria-Hungary. This is the longest and most philosophical section of the novel, exploring the issues of honor and death through the lens of Montenegrin courage, nationalism, and barbarism.

Part Three is the short account of two fictional (I think) Montenegrin clan leaders after the country had been liberated from Austria and united with Serbia. This section deals with the aftermath of the unification and the bloody guerrilla fighting that broke out between it's supporters and detractors, as well as the major cultural shifts that happened in the country at the time.

This is an enjoyable read. Đilas utilizes his bleak poetic style, which is perfect for the subject matter. If you've read the first book of his biography, "Land Without Justice", you'll really like this as well since it continues exploring the Montenegrin national character... a character that can seem pretty alien to someone like myself who has grown up in the west.