Ismail Kadare
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Ismail Kadare at a reading in Zurich |
Ismail Kadare is a world-renowned Albanian writer. He was born on
January 28,
1936 in
Gjirokastër,
Albania. He first studied at the
Faculty of History and Philology at the
University of Tirana and later at the
Gorky Institute of World Literature in
Moscow. He affirmed himself as literary talent early, in the 60's and his works represent much of the contemporary Albanian literature. His main interests are: the contemporary Albanian society, the communist regime and Albanian old traditions (kanun).
In 1990, just before the fall of communism in Albania, Kadare sought asylum in
France, stating that "Dictatorship and authentic literature are incompatible... The writer is the natural enemy of dictatorship." In 1992 he was awarded the
Prix mondial Cino Del Duca.
For the last ten years he has divided his time between France and Albania. While referred to as a dissident author by some, his status as such has been contested by others.
There are different opinions on whether Kadare was a
dissident or a
conformist during the communist period. But in the early days of democracy he was accused as the man of
Enver Hoxha.Even today some accuse him of having been a supporter of Communist. He was the only writer during
Communist Albania whose writing was not prohibited, and in many cases was promoted[
1]. Others argue that he had to stay on friendly terms with the
communists, but he was not necessarily an active supporter.
Against
Some see his poetry, as well as prose, as filled with verses serving the Communist Party and praising Enver Hoxha, the dictator of Albania, and "Dimri i madh" [The Great Winter] being one of the literary monuments to Hoxha in person. Kadare had the support of the leader of the communist state of Albania,
Enver Hoxha, who helped him throughout his career. Moreover Kadare served as Albania's main PR writer during the era of communism, for defending the regime and legitimizing it amongst people. Moreover he was deputy for the regime in its puppet parliament.
For
Other believe that some of his works, such as
The Palace of dreams make strong parallels to show the evilness of the communist regime of
Albania. In a political and literary environment completely and fiercely controlled by the state, Kadare's writing was for many the only window to anything approaching resistance. Having been sentenced to temporary exile, he was forced to produce some works praising the regime and paying lip-service to its "achievements." Yet, in many other works, Kadare purported to show that Albania's greatness extended beyond the Communist regime and that life could be beautiful without the (failing) Communist ideal.
Kadare himself has been
quoted saying he never claimed to be a dissident, and that "Dissidence was a position no one could occupy, even for a few days, without facing the firing squad. On the other hand, my books themselves constitute a very obvious form of resistance." He has referred to "The Great Winter" as "the price he had to pay for his freedom".
Kadare is published in over forty countries all over the world. He has been a candidate for the
Nobel Prize in Literature and in 2005 he received the inaugural Man Booker International Prize. Some of his greatest works (some published in France) include:
*
The City Without Advertisements (
Qyteti Pa Reklama) written in
1959, published in
2001*
My Century (
Shekulli Im)
1961*
The General of the Dead Army (
Gjenerali i Ushtrisë së Vdekur)
1963*
Why These Mountains Brood (
Përse Mendohen Këto Male)
1964 *
The Wedding (
Dasma)
1968*
The Castle (
Kështjella)
1970*
Chronicle in Stone (
Kronikë në gur)
1971*
The Great Winter (
Dimri i Madh)
1977*
The Three-Arched Bridge (
Ura Me Tri Harqe)
1978*
Broken April (
Prilli i Thyer)
1980*
Gjakftohtësia 1980*
The File on H (
Dosja H)
1981*
Literary Works (
Vepra Letrare)
1981-
1989*
The Concert at the End of the Winter (
Koncert në Fund të Dimrit)
1988*
From one December to another (
Nga një dhjetor në tjetrin)
1991*
The Pyramid (
Piramida)
1992*
Albanie 1995*
The Palace of Dreams (
Pallati i ëndrrave)
1996*
Poèmes 1997*
Froides Fleurs D'Avril (
Spring Flower, Spring Frost)
2000*
Three Elegies for Kosovo 2000*
The Life, Game and Death of Lul Mazreku (
Jeta, loja dhe vdekja e Lul Mazrekut)
2002*
The Successor (
Pasardhësi)
2003 (trans. by David Bellos
2005)
*
A dialogue with Alain Bosquet (
Dialog me Alain Bosquet)
1996*
Spiritus (
Spiritus)
1996*
The Angels' Cousin, essays (
Kushëriri i engjëjve)
1997*
Barbarian times(From Albania to Kosovo) (
Kohë Barbare (Nga Shqipëria në Kosovë))
1996*
Barbarian times(From Albania to Kosovo) (
Kohë Barbare (Nga Shqipëria në Kosovë))
1996*
Ra ky mort e u pam a book about Kosovo and the Kosovowar written like diary (2000)
*
Some rain-drops fell on the glass (
Ca pika shiu ranë mbi qelq) A selection of poems published in
2003*
The European identity of Albanians ("Identiteti europian i shqiptarëve") (2006)
*
Winning the first Man Booker International Prize, as reported by the
BBC.
*
Ismail Kadare, Novelist From The 'Balkan Fringe,' Receives Top Literary Award - Kadare's interview to
RFE/RL*
Biography at
bbc.co.uk.
*
Search by Google *
New Yorker article by Ismail Kadare*
Interview (09/1998)
