Slobodan Selenic

A touching story of cultural difference and tested loyalties. Set in Belgrade before WWII, Fathers and Forefathers tells the story of the marriage between a Steven, a Serb, and Elizabeth, an Englishwoman. After meeting at an English university they marry and leave England to build their life together. Steven's narrative and Elizabeth's letters home reveal two very different personal accounts of the difficulties this involves. Raised in Serbia their son, Mihajlo, is ashamed of his mixed parentage and rebels against his non-Serbian ancestry. On the eve of the war, Steven's loyalties are challenged when his counsel is sought by both the Serbian king and the opposition. He resolves to keep his distance from the conflict, but Mihajlo's more radical response forces him to become involved, and tragedy engulfs the family.

Fathers and Forefathers

Slobodan Selenić

Jelena is a young drama student and photographer in contemporary Belgrade. Lively, intelligent and complex, she hides a big heart behind a surly look, and uses highly-coloured, provocative language as an act of revolt against her society. Jelena comes across some old belongings of her grandmother and begins to reconstruct the story of her life. The life uncovered was one of passion and terror and crossed romance. This was a young woman caught between loyalties - to her step-brother, true friend and fellow explorer of sex; to her ideologies and principles; to an officer of the formidable secret police. Was she to resign herself to a disinherited life at the mercy of those running the country? And who was the father of her child? The grandfather of her grandchild? Selenic deftly links two lives across the chasm of half a century and explores the afflictions of personal separation and political chaos.

Slobodan Selenic

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