Death and the Dervish
Monday, December 10th, 2007 @ 03:55
by Meša Selimović (1966)
Set in Sarajevo circa 18th century, Death and the Dervish is a first-person narrative account by the dervish of the title, Ahmed Nurrudin. A spiritual leader of a tekke, Ahmed — whose name is apparently given (his real name is never revealed, as are all characters in the book except for Hassan) — considers himself unworthy of the title Sheikh and Nuruddin, a man at an “ugly age… young enough to have dreams, but too old to fulfill any of them.” ([f-ingbadjoke]”Too young to hold on / And too old to just break free and run….” [/endbadjoke])
This pusillanimity and internal conflicts are the central theme of the novel, themselves stemming from Selimović’s own experience and sense of guilt. As much as he fears (indeed, is ill-equipped in) politics, in his effort to free his brother (who has been arrested for an undisclosed charge and sentenced to death), Ahmed is thrust into a hostile, Kafkaesque political environment. Compromised and disillusioned, he helplessly struggles to maintain his ideals and integrity, in the process destroying the life of his best friend, Hassan, as well as his own.
The guilt-ridden narrative is partly philosophical musings riddled with the questions of justice, (”the right to do whatever we think must be done, therefore justice can be anything. The same is also true with guilt”) dignity, ideologies and their illusions, written in an internal monologue rich in Islamic references and the painful intensity of poetry.
This is one of those books whose completion you dread and leaves you feeling bereft (especially right after a steady literary trance of Danilo Kiš’). If you’ve read Kiš and/or Selimović (or Andric) and you’re reading this, recommendations of similar works will be most appreciated with virtual kisses and plum puddings, Christmas or not. (Not that anyone reads this, but hey, one can live in hope.)
