What remains for a creative soul when the world is at war and the body is confined within the four walls of a prison cell?

In Ex Ponto, Nobel laureate Ivo Andrić presents a stirring collection of poetic prose written largely during his political internment in World War I. Titled after Ovid’s letters from exile, this work is widely regarded as a "conversation with the soul"—a deeply personal confession that transcends the boundaries of the self to touch upon the universal human experience of suffering, solitude, and the search for meaning.

Composed in rhythmic, meditative passages, the book charts the spiritual journey of a young man grappling with the absurdity of existence amidst the ruins of the early 20th century. Yet, from this deep introspection, a powerful transformation occurs: the poet’s focus shifts from his own anguish to a profound compassion for all of humanity. It is here that Andrić resolves to suppress his own ego and dedicate his art to "understanding and compassion for man's sorrow."

Originally published in 1918, Ex Ponto (often collected with the subsequent volume Nemiri) marks the crucial lyrical phase of Andrić’s literary life. It is a timeless meditation on endurance, offering a raw and intimate glimpse into the mind that would later chronicle the monumental history of the Balkans.