The Diary of a Political Idiot: Normal Life in Belgrade

Labeled a traitor by nationalist Serbians because she opposes the war in Kosovo, a dissident journalist chronicles the intimate details that haunt her daily life. Amidst the bombardment, however, hope persists: neighbors braving air attacks to commune at midnight Easter service; young women performing ballet recitals despite all threats of danger; strangers gathered for safety, waiting for the next NATO bomb to strike. The author takes us beyond the sound bites of the nightly news by offering a firsthand account of daily life in a war zone. The Diary of a Political Idiot was named a PEN selection for 2000 and has been simultaneously published in 11 languages.

Jasmina Tesanovic is a writer, editor, translator, publisher, and filmmaker. Her writing in English has been published in Granta and The Guardian (U.K.). She is co-editor of The Suitcase: Refugee Voices from Bosnia and Croatia. She is a founding editor of 94, the first feminist publisher in Serbia. Her film based on The Diary of a Political Idiot was screened at the 56th International Venice Film Festival in 1999. Jasmina Tesanovic lives in Belgrade.