Nikola Koljevic
Encyclopedia
Nikola Koljević was a Serbian politician, university professor, translator and an essayist, one of the foremost Yugoslavian Shakespeare
scholars.
Koljević was born to a distinguished merchant family. His elder brother, Svetozar, is a renowned scholar who has written extensively on Serbian epic poetry
. At the first multi-party elections held in 1990, he was elected as a Serbian member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina
. In April 1992 he left the Presidency, and during the Bosnian War
occupied the post of a Vice-President of Republika Srpska
. He received the highest-ranking ordain of Republika Srpska, the Order of Republic with sash. On January 16, 1997 he tried to commit suicide by shooting himself in the head, and died a week later in a Belgrade hospital.
Some have suggested that Nikola went into politics because he resented the fact that throughout his whole life he had to live in the shadow of his famous elder brother. Having taught Shakespeare for many years at the University of Sarajevo
, his later involvement in Serbian nationalist politics had taken aback his former Muslim students, with many of whom he had remained good friends after graduating, because he had never before shown the slightest trace of prejudice. Koljević's son died in an accident a few years before the Bosnian War had started, and some have suggested that the trauma caused by this mischievous event had turned Koljević intent on playing out a full-blown Shakespearean tragedy of his own with himself as a starring role.
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
scholars.
Koljević was born to a distinguished merchant family. His elder brother, Svetozar, is a renowned scholar who has written extensively on Serbian epic poetry
Serbian epic poetry
Serb epic poetry is a form of epic poetry written by Serbs originating in today's Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia and Montenegro. The main cycles were composed by unknown Serb authors between the 14th and 19th centuries...
. At the first multi-party elections held in 1990, he was elected as a Serbian member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina
The Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina is the head of state of Bosnia and Herzegovina.-Overview:...
. In April 1992 he left the Presidency, and during the Bosnian War
Bosnian War
The Bosnian War or the War in Bosnia and Herzegovina was an international armed conflict that took place in Bosnia and Herzegovina between April 1992 and December 1995. The war involved several sides...
occupied the post of a Vice-President of Republika Srpska
Republika Srpska
Republika Srpska is one of two main political entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the other being the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina...
. He received the highest-ranking ordain of Republika Srpska, the Order of Republic with sash. On January 16, 1997 he tried to commit suicide by shooting himself in the head, and died a week later in a Belgrade hospital.
Some have suggested that Nikola went into politics because he resented the fact that throughout his whole life he had to live in the shadow of his famous elder brother. Having taught Shakespeare for many years at the University of Sarajevo
University of Sarajevo
The University of Sarajevo is the first university in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It was originally established in 1531 as a Madrasah or Islamic Law college, with a modern university being established and expanded on top of that in 1949. Today, with 23 faculties and around 55,000 enrolled students, it...
, his later involvement in Serbian nationalist politics had taken aback his former Muslim students, with many of whom he had remained good friends after graduating, because he had never before shown the slightest trace of prejudice. Koljević's son died in an accident a few years before the Bosnian War had started, and some have suggested that the trauma caused by this mischievous event had turned Koljević intent on playing out a full-blown Shakespearean tragedy of his own with himself as a starring role.
Works
- Teorijski osnovi nove kritike, 1967
- O uporednom i sporednom, 1977
- Ikonoborci i ikonobranitelji, 1978
- Šekspir, tragičar, 1981
- Pesnik iza pesme, 1984
- "Tajna" poznog Dučića: interpretacija, 1985
- "Lamnet nad Beogradom" Miloša Crnjanskog, 1986
- Klasici srpskog pesništva, 1987
- Otadžbinske teme, 1995
- Andrićevo remek-delo, 1995
- Od Platona do Dejtona: (zapisi o državi našim povodom), 1996