Serbian poet, prose writer, translator and literary historian Milorad Pavic died Nov. 30 at the age of 80, BBC reports.

He was born October, 1929 in Belgrade in a family of sculptor and philosophy professor. In 1949-1953 he graduated from philosophy department of Belgrade University. Later on, he earned PhD in philosophy in Zagreb University.

Pavic became world renowned after publication of “The Dictionary of the Khazars” book, translated into number of languages. He was nominated for the Nobel Prize in literature by experts from Europe, the U.S. and Brazil. Pavic’s second novel was “Landscape with Tea” (1988) — playing combination of a crossword puzzle. At that, the novel can be read horizontally and vertically. In “Inner Side of the Wind”, “Last Love in Constantinople”, “A Novel of Hero and Leander” and “An Astrologic Guide for Amateurs” (1994) the heroes’ destinies depend on dealing cards.

Pavic was Serbian literature connoisseur of XVII-XIX centuries, baroque and symbolism expert as well as on distinguished translators of Russian classic works. He translated Alexander Pushkin and Lord Byron into Serbian.

In 1991, Milorad Pavic was elected a Member of Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts.