Customer Reviews

The Mountain Wreath

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"THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW THE HISTORY ARE DOOMED TO REPEAT IT"!

This book is a must for anyone interested in the history of the Balkans and in the history of Christianity. It holds the key to resolving the current Balkan conflict(s), and avoiding the future ones. State Department should require that all their people understand this book before they attempt to deal with the Balkans. Understanding Mountain Wreath means going beyond the literal meaning of the words, and having somebody with an adequate background to interpret it. Although the book is pretty simple, it is not easily translatable in English language, like other archaic books and scriptures.

The symbls in the book could be somewhat incomprehensible to people not familiar with Montenegro (a small Balkan country), but once you grasp most of the meaning, you can fully enjoy the true work of genius.

The English translation is not quite good, it leaves a lot to be desired compared to the original. This is perhaps one of the books of poetry which can't be tranlated very well at all, due to mentality and not just language differences.

The mountain wreath is a must read for all serbs in the world. To read the serbian version would be more ideal however if one cant then the english version is still highly recommended. Like any poetry when converted it losesits value somewhat. Petar Petrovich- Njegos was a serb born in montenegro(a montenegrin is not a nationality, but just a person from a particular region, unlike what these prior reviewers indicate. Njegos always referred to his nationality as serbian. All true montenigrins are serbs. Whoever denies this fact is not a follower of njegos). The book is a story of the serbian struggle against the invading ottoman empire. Njegos was ruler of montenegro because that part of the serbian empire had not fallen to the ottomans. He was a poet, bishop of the serbian orthodox church and leader a truly gifted man. This is a must read for anyone interested in poetry and history.

This is a fascinating work, as if the Iliad had been written just 150 years ago. Still, most of these reviews seem to be discussing its politics so here's a couple of points. Most of Montenegro's history is one of resisting Turkish attempts at conquest. There were wise and just Ottoman rulers, like Suleiman the Magnificent, known in Turkish as Suleiman the Lawgiver. But there were more who weren't--a flaw inherent in all absolutist systems. Montenegrins saw the rest of the Serbs--the rest of the Balkan peoples, in fact--suffering (most of the time) under Turkish rule. So, yes, this mid19th century work does not present a balanced view--but if you're unable or unwilling to adapt to the idea that it needs to be read in its historical context, you won't understand or learn from it. As to Montenegrin ethnicity, of course they're Serbs. But having their country treated like a conquered province by succesive Belgrade regimes since 1918 has created quite a lot of bitterness. Hence the assertion of a separate Montenegrin ethnicity. Beyond all that, though, you should read this if you care about history, ethnology or poetry.

Book is very good. It is explaining for those who don't know, Montenegrins and Montenegro, country on Balcan Peninsula, never conquered by no one. As a Montenegrin I must say that the translation in English language is not very good in some parts, but still the book is very nice. You have to read it!

I love this book. I think that it would be hard for people to read it who are not of Montenegrin origin because of the language use and style of writing that Njegos uses.

If you are of Serbian descent; this will inspire you and help you understand your ancestors fight for survival, freedom, justice and the courage it took to win back their freedom from the Ottoman Empire. If you are not of Serbian descent then the book will be hard to feel and put into context.

As Montenegrin and Serb this book, which Njegos dedicated to the "Spirit of the Father of Serbia" (Karadjordje), I can feel the fighting spirit of my ancestors.

Njegos glorifies Kosovo, Lazar, Milos Obilic, Ivan Crnojevic, and countless other Serbian heros who fought against the mohommadian invaders.

In this book Njegos seems most fond of Milos Obilic, who is the personification of all that is valiant and heroic.

Vladika Njegos was a Prince Bishop, poet, and ruler, and above all a Serb.

"Srpski pisem i zborim, svakom gromko govorim- narodnost mi Srpska, um i dusa Slavenska"- PP II Njegos (Gorski Vijenac).

I wish that while the reviewers below were praising Njegos' "The Mountain Wreath" they would take a moment to realize the hate that is inherent in this piece of so called Serbian literature. There is little need to disguise the clear statements calling for the extermination of another people. The use of Njegos's works played a central role in the Serbian maniacs who unleashed the widespread slaughter of Muslims in Bosnia-Hercegovina. His works were a piece in the myth-making indulged in by Serbian nationalists to convince their people that the Serbian nation had to be 'clensed' of the Muslims. The entire context of "The Mountain Wreath" is this element. It is shameful that none of the reviewers mention this element of what is a lyrical yet vile hate literature. "Race betrayal" is the key element of this book, this sense that by converting to Islam Slavic Muslims are tainted and "turkified". It of course avoids completely the reality that the Slavs also converted to Christianity. Here is a book that ends with a Christmas Eve massacre of Muslims after which the Serb warriors take communion, without confession. The likes of Karadic, Milosovic and other deranged nationalists used the myths perpetrated by the likes of Njegos to excite xenophobia, hate, blood-lust in an entire people which subsequently led to the genocide of Muslims in Bosnia. This is hate literature pure and simple and I find it shameful and shocking that a people or a person would recommend reading this kind of material as a way of creating a sense of community. Please do read this book to understand how the likes of Njegos, Andric and other Serbian writers, intellectuals, poets, writers were party to the genocide of a people. This is not a work a nation should be proud of. For those looking for more details about Serbian hate literature and its political uses see Michael Sells "The Bridge Betrayed"