Voices in the Shadows: Women and Verbal Art in Serbia and Bosnia

This book is the first complete literary history of women's writing in south-east Europe, covering the period from the eighteenth century to the twentieth century. It highlights the contribution of women to literary culture in the Orthodox/ Ottoman areas of Serbia and Bosnia and explores the trials and tribulations that affected feminism and women's literature throughout the century.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 296 pages
Publication date: 31 March 2023
Publisher: Central European University Press

Women have been notably absent from traditional cultural histories of south-east Europe, a discrepancy that this book aims to rectify. By delving into the contribution of women to literary culture in the Orthodox/Ottoman areas of Serbia and Bosnia, it seeks to redress the imbalance. This comprehensive literary history stands as the first of its kind in the region, offering a thorough chronological account of women's writing. The author divides the book into two main parts, the first spanning from the early period until the eighteenth century. During this time, she explores the ways in which gender was projected through oral tradition and the lives of a select group of educated women in medieval Serbia. Additionally, she examines the written literature produced by women during this era, focusing on the mid-nineteenth century and the turn of the century.

The second part of the book delves into the challenges and struggles faced by feminism and women's literature throughout the twentieth century. The author highlights the emergence of the new women's movement, from 1975 to 1990, as a transformative period for women in Yugoslavia. This movement created a vibrant atmosphere for the production of exceptional works of women's journalism, prose, and verse, culminating in the establishment of new women's studies courses in numerous universities.

Weight: 442g
Dimension: 152 x 228 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9789639116931