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Milorad Pavić

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description Milorad Pavić Overview

Milorad Pavić (1929–2009) was a Serbian novelist, poet, and literary historian. His best-known work, 'Dictionary of the Khazars' (1984), is a postmodern novel structured as a lexicon with entries drawn from Christian, Islamic, and Jewish sources, designed to be read in varying orders. The novel was translated into over 30 languages and was a finalist for the U.S. National Book Award in 1988.

Pavić taught Serbian literature of the 17th and 18th centuries at the University of Belgrade and was a member of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts from 1991.

help Milorad Pavić FAQ

How is The Dictionary of the Khazars structured?

Milorad Pavić's 1984 novel is organized like a lexicon rather than a conventional chronological narrative. Its entries draw on Christian, Islamic, and Jewish sources, allowing readers to follow cross-references and construct different paths through the story.

What is the Khazar controversy in Pavić's novel?

The book imagines a medieval debate about which faith the Khazars should adopt, then presents competing versions through Christian, Islamic, and Hebrew sources. The conflicting accounts make the reader compare interpretations instead of accepting one authoritative history.

Why are there male and female editions of The Dictionary of the Khazars?

Pavić published male and female editions that differ in a small portion of the text while retaining the same overall lexicon structure. The idea reinforces the novel's interest in alternate reading paths and the way identity can shape interpretation.

What should I read after The Dictionary of the Khazars?

Last Love in Constantinople, published in 1994, is another Pavić experiment with nonlinear reading and uses tarot cards as a structural device. His later work Second Body continues his interest in identity, dreams, and forms that challenge the standard novel.