Bosnian Chronicle

"The Days of the Consuls" is not an easily accessiblebook. The long and detailed narrative contains no real story - itbegins with the arrival of the French consul Daville in the Bosniantown of Travnik in 1807 and ends with his departure seven yearslater. All this is set against the background of Napoleon's fall fromthe height of power, viewed from a European backwater. Bosnia is stillunder Turkish rule and part of the Osmanic empire. Its citizens are acultural mix of Turks, Jews and Christians. But most of all they areBosniaks, distrustful towards all strangers, capable of much crueltyand deviousness as well as generosity and love, and a very stubbornpeople. Andric peoples his novel with a huge set of characters, all ofthem described with much insight into human nature. Foremost areDaville and his wife, the two Austrian consuls set up as counteragents against the French influence, three Turkish wesirs who ruleTravnik consecutively, and a huge group of servants and aides to eachof these. One of the main topics is the confrontation of modern,dynamic Europe with a culture weighed down by Turkish rule as well asharsh and bitter life conditions and infected with a sense ofresignation and equanimity. Andric takes his time to make acomprehensive statement on this, breathing life into a fascinating andstrange world often with the aid of small but detailed digressionsfrom the fate of the main protagonists. There is so much in this bookthat it is hard to choose examples let alone highlights, but theponderings of a sephardic Jew about the fate of his people towards theend will probably stay longest in my mind. This is a huge novel inscope and a fine achievement. It is brimming with historical,political, cultural and social wisdom and still full of care for everyindividual portrayed even if he or she makes only a shortappearance. A great work of literary art that deserves a reprint! END