"Death and the Dervish" is a novel written by Meša Selimović and first published in 1966. Set in 18th-century Ottoman Bosnia, the novel follows the story of Sheikh Nuruddin, a dervish who is drawn into a complex web of political and religious intrigue after his brother is arrested by the Ottoman authorities. As Nuruddin navigates the labyrinthine bureaucracy and legal system of the Ottoman Empire, he is forced to confront the corruption and hypocrisy of the religious and political establishments, as well as his own spiritual beliefs and doubts. The novel explores themes of power, justice, faith, and identity, and provides a vivid and insightful portrayal of life in the Ottoman Empire during a time of great change and upheaval. Through the character of Nuruddin, Selimović offers a poignant and powerful meditation on the human condition, and the eternal struggle between the individual and the forces of society and history. The novel is considered a masterpiece of Yugoslav literature, and has been translated into numerous languages.
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