At the Edge of Language

Ilija Đurović (Podgorica, 1990) is a Montenegrin writer who has been living in Berlin for some time. He writes prose, poetry, and film scripts. His award-winning poetry collection Brid (Treći Trg, 2018) was recently translated into German by Jelena Dabić and published under the title Rand by Drava Publishing in Klagenfurt.

Through innovative language, blending different cultures and linguistic elements, Đurović explores the contemporary European existential experience in this poetry collection. His debut novel Sampas (Treći Trg, 2021) was shortlisted for the prestigious NIN Award for Best Novel of the Year. Following two young people traveling through Montenegro, the novel sheds light on the complexity of their individual identities as they collide with collective perceptions of time and space. The German translation of the novel is currently being undertaken by Elvira Veselinović.

This program aims to introduce the audience to Ilija Đurović’s work, the uniqueness of his style and literary language, and his contribution to contemporary Montenegrin and European literature. With the publisher’s and translator’s approval, it is possible to print a translation of 1-2 selected poems and an excerpt from Sampas in German for the audience.

Moderator: Prof. Dr. Jelena Knežević, University of Montenegro
Guest Speaker: Ilija Đurović, Writer