Carnivalesque notion of art and reality: the story collection Đavoli dolaze by Miodrag Bulatović

Abstract

Miodrag Bulatović stands as one of the most significant Serbian writers of the latter half of the 20th century. His literary works are renowned for their phantasmagorical, grotesque, and naturalistic portrayal of the world-imbued with absurdity at every turn. Bulatović's first published book, Đavoli dolaze [The Devils Are Coming, 1955], is widely regarded as a defining moment in post-war Serbian prose. This short story collection not only marks the beginning of his literary career but also serves as a cornerstone of the period's narrative landscape.

The paper explores several comparative dimensions of Bulatović's debut work, with the focus on the emergence of the absurd in his storytelling. At the heart of the analysis lie the metaliterary and (auto)parodic layers of Đavoli dolaze. The collection offers a dark, carnivalesque vision of reality, intertwining the National Liberation War with deeper cultural polemics of the time. Through his carnevalesque interplay of absurdity and existential tension, Bulatovic's work challenges conventional narratives and opens new spaces for understanding the complexities of post-war Serbian identity and literature.