| Jovan Deretić | |
| Birth Date: | January 22, 1934 |
| Birth Place: | Orovac, Kingdom of Yugoslavia |
| Death Place: | Belgrade, Serbia, FR Yugoslavia |
| Nationality: | Serbian, Yugoslav |
| Years Active: | 1969–2002 |
Jovan Deretić (Serbian: Јован Деретић, [jǒʋan derětit͡ɕ]; 22 January 1934 – 16 June 2002) was a Serbian historian and author of Serbian literary history.[1] His work Istorija Srpske književnosti (1983) is the standard work in Serbian literary history.[2] He is sometimes confused with pseudohistorian Jovan I. Deretić.[2]
Deretić was born in the village of Orahovac near Trebinje on 22 January 1934.[3] He completed gymnasium high school in Trebinje and Vrbas and graduated from the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Belgrade in 1958.[3] He completed his doctoral degree in Belgrade as well in 1965 with a thesis under the title "Composition of the Gorski Vijenac".[3]