Isidora Sekulić je bila naša književnica, prevoditeljka, intelektualka i jedna od najobrazovanijih ličnosti svoga doba.
Osim u Srbiji, Isidora se obrazovala i u Budimpešti, a pretpostavlja se da je doktorirala u Nemačkoj. Ceo radni vek je provela radeći u prosveti. Isidora je puno putovala, bila je poliglota i pisala je pripovetke, eseje i književne kritike. Govorila je engleski, francuski, ruski, nemački, norveški i švedski.
Isidora je veći deo svog života živela povučeno, ne dozvoljavajući da joj privatnost postane javna. Kako zbog ove svoje tajanstvenosti, tako i zbog toga što se nije udavala niti imala decu, bila je predmet mnogobrojnih zluradih komentara – od onih o fizičkom izgledu do spekulacija o njenoj ličnosti.
Iako je radila u prosveti, ovaj posao nije volela i često je odsustvovala sa njega kako bi mogla da putuje. Tokom svojih putovanja nastojala je da upozna kulturu i način života zemlje u kojoj boravi, te je kao rezultat boravka u Norveškoj napisala putopis „Pisma iz Norveške“ – u kojem je dočarala prirodu i život Norveške.
Kada se 1926. godine osnivao srpski ogranak međunarodne organizacije pisaca – PEN, Isidora je bila jedina žena od svih osnivača, kao i prvi sekretar organizacije. Prva žena akademik koja je primljena u Srpsku akademiju nauka i umetnosti (SANU), bila je upravo Isidora Sekulić, 1950. godine.
Kao i Ksenija Atanasijević, i Isidora je 1941. odbila da potpiše takozvani Apel srpskom narodu. Nakon Drugog svetskog rata njena knjiga o Njegošu je bila predmet oštre kritike od strane Milovana Đilasa, te je Isidora iz straha spalila rukopis druge knjige o Njegošu. I svoje ostale rukopise je spalila pre smrti, zbog čega su mnogi aspekti njenog života i dan danas prekriveni velom tajne i Isidorinim biografima su dalje u domenu misterije.
Ipak, ono što se sa sigurnošću može reći jeste da je Isidora bila jedna od centralnih književnih figura modernizma u Srbiji, cenjena od strane drugih književnika, intelektualaca i ljudi iz kulture svoga doba. Svoje lične stvari je zaveštala Univerzitetskoj biblioteci Svetozar Marković u Beogradu, u kojoj se one i danas nalaze.
// Isidora Sekulić was a Serbian writer, polyglot, translator and one of the most educated individuals in Serbia at the first half of the 20th century.
Apart from gaining her education in Serbia, Isidora studied in Budapest as well, and it is assumed that she obtained her PhD in Germany. She worked as a teacher in Serbia. Isidora travelled a lot, she spoke seven languages and she wrote short stories, essays and literary critics. She could speak English, French, Russian, German, Norwegian and Swedish.
Isidora spent her life living in privacy. Because of this, as well as for the fact that she wasn’t married nor had any kids, she was often exposed to malicious comments on her personality and looks.
Although she worked as a teacher, she didn’t like her job and was frequently on a leave, so that she could travel. While traveling she tried to get to know the culture of the country she was staying in. As a result she wrote a travelogue “Letters from Norway” about Norway’s nature and everyday life.
Isidora was the only woman among founders of Serbian PEN Centre, a part of International PEN (international organisation of writers) where she was also the first secretary. She was the first woman to become a member of Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts in 1950.
Like Ksenija Atanasijević, Isidora also refused to sign “A call to Serbian people” in 1941. After WWII her book on 19th century Montenegrin ruler, poet and philosopher Petar II Petrović-Njegoš was harshly criticized, so she decided to burn the sequel of the book. She also burnt other manuscripts before her deathbed and because of that many aspects of her life remain a mystery to this day.
However, we can safely say that Isidora was one of the most important figures of Serbian modernism, she was respected by fellow writers and intellectuals. She donated her personal belongings to University library Svetozar Marković in Belgrade, where they remained until today.