JOVAN SKERLIĆ - RENOWNED SERBIAN CRITIC

BIJELJINA, MAY 14 /SRNA/ - Serbian literary critic and historian Jovan Skerlić /1877–1914/, professor at the University of Belgrade and member of the Serbian Royal Academy, was born on May 15, 1877.

Skerlić is known for his critiques of "depressive and dispirited" poetry and prose.

Through his literary work, he had a significant influence on the cultural and political life of Serbia at the beginning of the 20th century. Skerlić authored the History of Serbian Literature.

He was born in Belgrade, where he completed elementary and high school, as well as philosophy studies. He later earned a doctorate in French literature in Lausanne.

Skerlić taught at the University of Belgrade and was twice dismissed from state service due to his political views.

As a student, he joined the socialist movement and wrote socio-political articles and studies for the socialist press.

He later joined the Independent Radical Party /left-wing faction/ and soon became its chief ideologist. During the last two years of his life, he served as a deputy in the National Assembly of Serbia.

Skerlić gave fiery speeches and wrote against "bankocracy" - banks that, through usurious interest rates, mercilessly drained the people.

He was an advocate of the Yugoslav idea, known for his pro -Yugoslav stance and his calls for the unification of South Slavs, particularly during conferences in Prague.

He even spoke favourably of Ante Starčević, the leading ideologist of the Croatian right and a known Serbophobe, calling him "a proponent of the Yugoslav idea who mistakenly declared all South Slavs, including Serbs, as Croats".

Skerlić's most famous and best work is "Writers and Books". The synthesis of his entire literary contribution is found in The History of Modern Serbian Literature, first published in abridged form as a high school textbook, later in full version.