Milorad Pavic was born in Belgrade on October 15, 1929. After receiving a doctorate from the University of Zagreb, he taught philosophy at the University of Novi Sad followed by the University of Belgrade. During his lifetime, he wrote several novels including Dictionary of the Khazars, Landscape Painted with Tea, The Inner Side of the Wind, and Last Love in Constantinople. He also wrote short stories, nonfiction and poetry. He died due to complications of a heart attack on November 30, 2009 at the age of 80.