THE DAYS OF THE CONSULS

Bosnian silence is powerful; it is the chief ingredient of that insidious oriental poison which poisons the man of the West. Only those Westerners who were brought to Travnik by chance know how much East they carry with them and how much Travnik has changed their lives. Only they know what Bosnia has given them and what it has taken away. Silence is the last word, the final chord of the novel. Victorious silence.

Moćna je bosanska tišina; ona je glavni sastojak onoga podmuklog orijentalnog otrova koji truje čovjeka sa Zapada. Samo ti zapadnjaci koje je slučaj doveo u Travnik znaju koliko Istoka nose sa sobom i koliko je Travnik promijenio njihov život. Samo oni znaju što im je Bosna dala, a što oduzela. Tišina je posljednja riječ, završni akord romana. Pobjednička tišina.