Amina Pi’s Reviews > The Fortress > Status Update

"I tell you, Ahmet Shabo, go fishing!"

The further I read, the heavier these words become.

I feel Selimović’s work in every line; the way he explores human greatness and misery, the way love and thought wrestle with authority, suffering and hope.

Out of moral struggle and historical weight emerges a beautifully constructed, utterly tragic hero; greatness and misery bound together, urging me onward.

Fifteen years ago, I was captivated by how Selimović could compress such depth and meaning into a simple words. Returning to The Fortress, I uncover layers I once overlooked and see with new clarity why it lingered in me: its wisdom speaks to everyone, and from a Balkan perspective, its significance becomes even more apparent.

The greatest wisdom in life is to find a true folly.
I tell you, Ahmet Shabo, go fishing!

First read this 15 years ago, curious to see how my feelings and perceptions have changed. Let's dive in.