A young Jewish writer from Belgrade, David Albahari, has been named the recipient for the year 1983 of Yugoslavia’s most prestigious literary prize, the Andric Award, the World Jewish Congress reported today.
The award was established by the last will of the only Yugoslav Nobel literary laureate, Ivo Andric–winner of the prize in 1961. It is given each year to one writerwho achieves high standards in short story writing. According to the Federation of Jewish Communities in Yugoslavia, the central representative bodv of Yugoslav Jewry and the WJC affiliate here, Albahari is a well-known activist in communal Jewish affairs.
He was given the award for his book- “Description of Death,” published in 1982, dealing with conditions of Jewish life in Belgrade on the eve of World War II. The first edition of the book has already been sold out and the second printing is now on bookshelves.
Following the ceremonial presentation, which took place in the Ivo Andric Memorial Museum, excerpts from Albahari’s book were read by Milan Djokovic, the prominent writer and president of the award’s jury. Albabari’s short story, “Words ore Something Different,” was published in the leading Belgrade daily, Politika, which also carried an interview with the author that appeared on the eve of the ceremonial presentation of the award.
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