Moj beogradski dnevnik : susreti i razgovori s Dobricom Ćosićem, 2006. - 2011.
In his extensive diary – written between 2006 and 2011 in Belgrade – Darko Hudelist records his encounters with Dobrica Ćosić, an important figure in Serbian nationalism and intellectual life, shedding light on his personality and political philosophy.
The book reveals Ćosić's views – on Serbian cultural and political identity, shame as part of the Eastern mentality, as well as the role of national ideas in the collapse of Yugoslavia. Hudelist insists on a deep recognition of complexity: he avoids stereotypes, neither glorifies nor demonizes Ćosić, but presents him as a multidimensional person – a writer, statesman and ideologist.
Through a series of encounters and fresh reflections, the author develops a critical, but also understanding tone: he records Ćosić's analyses of historical processes, intimate confessions and even suicidal thoughts that marked his life. The book is at the same time a personal travelogue, a political interview and a historical study – a combination of archival research and direct dialogues that open up a new dimension of understanding of the relationship between Croats and Serbs.
The structure of the diary is chronological and introspective: In each chapter, Hudelist confronts himself and the reader with difficult questions – who are we in relation to this “otherness”, how do we bear witness to history across generations, and what is the role of the public intellectual in devastating national moments?
Ultimately, “My Belgrade Diary” is an important book for anyone interested in an in-depth analysis of Balkan nationalism and the intellectual participants who, with their ideas and actions, influenced the fate of the region. Hudelist’s precise, “something more than journalistic” approach brings to life the terrible and fascinating truths about the historical turning points of Yugoslavia.
One copy is available
