For sure one of my favourite books.

This is the most famous Bosnia novel by Author Selimovic written in 1966. Although this book describes the Ottoman Bosnia, it's ultimately about a human soul and all the negative and positive aspect of one.

It is first-person narrative based around 1700s Sarajevo Islamic tekke (monastery)

The basic story is the narrator Sheikh Nuruddin, an ex-soldier of about 40 years old, is a leading member of a religious order (a Dervish) on the outskirts of the town (kasba). He lives alongside Mustafa, deaf and married with kids; Mullah Yusaf, a 25-year-old ill pale individual; and finally Hufiz-Mohammed, a knowledgeable youth and initial friend of Hassan. We learn that the local kadi (town leader) has had Nuruddin’s brother (a simple clerk, 15 years his junior) arrested. He’s invited to Hassan’s father’s house where the sister tries to persuade him to get Hassan to deny his inheritance (for dishonouring behaviour Constantinople). Nuruddin sees the potential to gain influence and get his brother released. Hassan grows to be Nuruddin’s close friend whilst horse-trading and womanising (possibly Catholics).

Nuruddin is existential, over-thinker. He plans, schemes and visits important people to affect his goals which start with freeing his brother but about halfway turn to revenge on the town’s people and leaders. We certainly get inside his head; and for all his religion, his God plays surprising little on his mind – he still seems very much wedded to this earth in his views, personal and selfish behaviour. Nuruddin is ultimately a complex and unforgiving character and we have 450 pages of detailed, hard going, narrative-based in a multicultural historic setting. Ultimately, I think, the tale is about betrayal on many levels social, religious, family and friends.

You can buy the Paperback here and the Kindle here