Editing Ivo Andrić (section)

===Early diplomatic career===
[[File:Ivo Andric Graz 2011-08-29.jpg|thumb|right|upright=0.8|A [[bust (sculpture)|bust]] of Andrić in [[Graz]], Austria]]
In the immediate aftermath of the war, Andrić's tendency to identify with Serbdom became increasingly apparent. In a correspondence dated December 1918, Vojnović described the young writer as "a Catholic&nbsp;... a Serb from Bosnia."{{sfn|Hawkesworth|1984|p=18}}{{sfn|Malcolm|1996|loc=p. 304, note 52}} By 1919, Andrić had acquired his undergraduate degree in South Slavic history and literature at the University of Zagreb.{{sfn|Vucinich|1995|p=31}} He was perennially impoverished, and earned a meagre sum through his writing and editorial work. By mid-1919, he realized that he would be unable to financially support himself and his aging mother, aunt and uncle for much longer, and his appeals to Alaupović for help securing a government job became more frequent. In September 1919, Alaupović offered him a secretarial position at the Ministry of Religion, which Andrić accepted.{{sfn|Vucinich|1995|p=31}}

In late October, Andrić left for [[Belgrade]].{{sfn|Hawkesworth|1984|p=19}} He became involved in the city's literary circles and soon acquired the distinction of being one of Belgrade's most popular young writers. Though the Belgrade press wrote positively of him, Andrić disliked being a public figure, and went into seclusion and distanced himself from his fellow writers.{{sfn|Hawkesworth|1984|p=20}} At the same time, he grew dissatisfied with his government job and wrote to Alaupović asking for a transfer to the [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Yugoslavia)|Ministry of Foreign Affairs]]. On 20 February, Andrić's request was granted and he was assigned to the Foreign Ministry's mission at the [[Holy See|Vatican]].{{sfn|Vucinich|1995|p=31}}

Andrić left Belgrade soon after, and reported for duty in late February. At this time, he published his first short story, ''Put Alije Đerzeleza'' (The Journey of [[Đerzelez Alija|Alija Đerzelez]]).{{sfn|Vucinich|1995|p=32}} He complained that the consulate was understaffed and that he did not have enough time to write. All evidence suggests he had a strong distaste for the ceremony and pomp that accompanied his work in the diplomatic service, but according to Hawkesworth, he endured it with "dignified good grace".{{sfn|Hawkesworth|1984|p=20}} Around this time, he began writing in the [[Shtokavian dialect#Yat reflexes|Ekavian dialect]] used in Serbia, and ceased writing in the Ijekavian dialect used in his native Bosnia.{{sfn|Popović|1989|p=36}} Andrić soon requested another assignment, and in November, he was transferred to [[Bucharest]].{{sfn|Vucinich|1995|p=32}} Once again, his health deteriorated.{{sfn|Hawkesworth|1984|p=22}} Nevertheless, Andrić found his consular duties there did not require much effort, so he focused on writing, contributed articles to a Romanian journal and even had time to visit his family in Bosnia. In 1922, Andrić requested another reassignment. He was transferred to the consulate in [[Trieste]], where he arrived on 9 December.{{sfn|Vucinich|1995|p=32}} The city's damp climate only caused Andrić's health to deteriorate further, and on his doctor's advice, he transferred to [[Graz]] in January 1923.{{sfn|Hawkesworth|1984|p=23}} He arrived in the city on 23 January, and was appointed vice-consul.{{sfn|Vucinich|1995|p=32}} Andrić soon enrolled at the [[University of Graz]], resumed his schooling and began working on his doctoral dissertation in [[Slavic studies]].{{sfn|Hawkesworth|1984|p=23}}