Miloš N. Đurić

Born the eldest son of a family of eight, Đurić's father, Nikola, was a teacher and writer[4] who introduced him to Serbian epic poetry,[5] which would influence his future career. He began to write and publish poetry and literary criticism early in life. In 1918, Đurić was living in Osijek, where he tried to publish a work on Serbian epic poetry titled Smrt majke Jugovića. Austro-Hungarian state censors based in Osijek banned the paper on the grounds that it "threatens the national interests".[4] Đurić graduated from the University of Belgrade Faculty of Philosophy and defended his PhD thesis at the University of Zagreb in 1929.[4]

He worked as a teacher at a gymnasium in Zemun and Sremska Mitrovica where he published poems and essays in a local journal Serbia.[4] He went on to work as a university professor teaching the history of Ancient Greek literature, a post which he held for four decades.[6][7]

The puppet government of Serbia forced him into early retirement and sent him to the Banjica concentration camp.[8][9] His only son Rastko died on the front in Slavonia in 1945.[5] Đurić dedicated all of his works from that point on to him.

The Kornelije Stanković Musical Society of Belgrade elected him a full member, and Đurić later served as the president of the organisation.[10] Between 1952 and 1957 Đurić served as the president of the Serbian Literary Guild, chief editor of several academic journals and a contributor to 96 journals and magazines. The Belgrade Psychoanalytical Society made him a full member, and he translated some of the most influential works of psychoanalytical literature into Serbian.[11]

A complete bibliography of Đurić's works consists of around 400 titles containing more than 10,000 pages.[9][4]

The World War II puppet government of Serbia demanded that notable intellectuals sign a document that demanded "order and obedience" from them and "patriotism in the fight against communists".[10] Đurić refused to sign it[12] on the grounds that more than half of his students were part of the Yugoslav Partisans.[3] When a music professor stopped him and warned him the Germans would not forget his disobedience, Đurić answered: "It's easy for you. You play diple, while I teach students ethics!"[13][14] This statement became a symbol of personal integrity in Serbian and Yugoslav society.[15]

Đurić was awarded the city of Belgrade's October Award, the Seventh July Award, the Order of Saint Sava and the Yugoslav Order of Labour. A street in Karaburma is named after him.[16] The Association of Literary Translators of Serbia has awarded the Miloš N. Đurić Award annually since 1969.[17][18] It is considered the most important Serbian prize for translation.[10] Mihailo Pupin wrote highly of his work and philosophy.[19] The title of one of Milovan Vitezović's poetry collections—Na času kod profesora Miloša N. Đurića—honours him.[20]

His personal items and works are kept by the Belgrade University Library.[21]

• Milan Kujundžić Aberdar
• Jovan Došenović
• Vladimir Jovanović
• Božidar Knežević
• Svetozar Marković
• Dimitrije Matić
• Ljubomir Nedić
• Milan Budimir
• Emanuilo Janković
• Laza Kostić
• Branislav Petronijević
• Mita Rakić

• Bibliografija Miloša N. Đurića by Živanov Marko and Sajić Radisav, 1983
• Zvezdani časovi Miloša N. Đurića by Jokić Miroslav, 2014

• RTS documentary on Miloš N. Đurić