Zaim Topčić

Zaim Topčić (28 February 1920 – 15 July 1990) was a Bosnian writer, renowned for his novels. He is one of the few writers who have twice won the Annual Award of Association of Writers of Bosnia and Herzegovina (his son Zlatko Topčić is also a double winner of this prestigious award).

Early life and family

Topčić was born in Glamoč on 28 February 1920 and lived most of his life in Sarajevo with his wife Naila. His wife is a native of the famous family Selimić (Her grandfather was a landowner, benefactor and philanthropist Zaim Bey Selimić, which, among other things, was the owner of the famous waterfall Kravica). He graduated from Trade Academy in Sarajevo, and he studied at the Faculty of Economics of the University of Belgrade.

Career

Zaim Topčić actively participated in the World War II in Yugoslavia from the beginning of 1941. After the liberation he was editor of the Sarajevo radio station. He is the author of important historical novel Country Of Heretics. Professor Enes Duraković has included novel in the edition of 100 books of Bosniak literature. He published a collections of stories Over Abyss and Towards The Day, novels Nugget Sun, Black Snows, Sea Between Poplars, Country Of Heretics, Obtained World and Catching Men Jasenovac, drama Shadows Of Autumn and travelogues Panorama Of Our Time.

Personal life

He lived in Sarajevo with his wife Naila, son Zlatko and daughter Vesna. He was trapped in the Jasenovac concentration camp in 1943. He was a great friend of Nobel Prize winner Ivo Andrić.

Awards

• Annual Award of Association of Writers of Bosnia and Herzegovina for novel Nugget Sun, 1958
• Annual Award of Association of Writers of Bosnia and Herzegovina for novel Black Snows, 1962