Contemporary Albanian authors that are not Kadare?

March 8, 2020 6:16 AM

I'm currently reading Ismail Kadare's Spring Flowers, Spring Frost and it's got me intrigued about contemporary-ish Albanian history. What other fiction can I read to get more of this?

I find the tensions described between modernism and the "old ways" in the post-communist era particularly interesting, but Kadare may be exaggerating those...? I will likely read more of him tho! But would like to expand my perspective some.

Looking at Goodreads, the option seems to be Kadare or untranslated. Wikipedia is a bit overwhelming to get started. (I also looked at the Year of reading the world blog, but it's Kadare plus communist era.)

I can read in German and French as well as English. I would prefer fiction(alised), but will consider non-fiction if it isn't too dry. (I did find Sole bruciato by Elvira Dones, apparently available in French, but God, it sounds grim.)

Thanks!

posted by ClarissaWAM to Media & Arts (5 answers total)

Best answer: are you looking for specifically more about Kanun and the blood feuds?

i've lived here for two years and can tell you that it is still an issue in the villages today. it's not as bad as it was of course but it is still definitely a thing that happens on a regular basis.

there's a documentary BBC did from 2017 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-41901300

Broken April by Kadare is entirely about blood feuds and is the most depressing book i've ever read. i didn't need to read any more Kadare after that. it is a grim business. it was and continues to be. he's not exaggerating.

from what i can tell, albanian books are not widely translated. i can ask people who are albanian and/or have been here for longer and are more familiar with what might be available if i know what exactly you're looking for.

i don't think it has the same breadth of fictionalized stories like there are about WWII like All The Light We Cannot See, if that's the sort of thing you're looking for.

there's also an r/albania which is not super active but you might ask about this there. there will be some trolls of course but there also albanians who wish to help others know more about their country.
posted by affectionateborg at 6:49 AM on March 8, 2020

Best answer: Fatos Kongoli. His The Loser available in English though more works available in French, Italian, Spanish
Dritero Agolli. His The Bronze Bust available in English, others in French
Fatmir Gjata. A couple available in French
Besnik Mustafaj. A few available in French
Bessa Myftiu. A few available in French, German
Rexhep Qosj. Stories available in French
Bashkim Shehu. The Last Journey of Ago Ymeri in English, a few in French
Neshat Tozaj. Shalom available in English, others in French
Ornela Vorpsi.The Country Where No One Ever Dies in English, others in French, Italian
If you read French there are a lot of Kadare books in French which have not been translated into English. I would particularly recommend Le grand hiver
posted by TheRaven at 7:17 AM on March 8, 2020 [2 favorites]

Response by poster: Ooh, that BBC page reminds me that I came across the pyramid scheme madness when I listened to The Dream. I can't find the documentary, sadly.

Thanks for your suggestions, both! As I said, I do intend to read more Kadare for sure. I don't know if I'm interested in the blood feuds particularly, but I guess they are inevitable. The whole idea of "old ways" coming back to the fore after being repressed for half a century is what interests me I guess (tho affectionateborg, you've scared me now with how depressing Broken April is...).

TheRaven, that is a great list. I did come across Fatos Kongoli's The Loser, but since that's Communist era, it is a bit too early. I'll see what the others are about. Thank you!!
posted by ClarissaWAM at 8:00 AM on March 8, 2020

Great list TheRaven! Gonna bookmark that myself.

Also I’m not sure why that link doesn’t go directly to the same page but here’s the title and authors.

The children trapped by Albania's blood feuds
By Andrew Hosken and Albana Kasapi
The World Tonight, BBC Radio 4
posted by affectionateborg at 8:52 AM on March 8, 2020 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Oh, right, I found the article. I just meant the Radio 4 documentary that ostensibly came with it is no longer online (or on the BBC Sounds app). But maybe it was just an audio version of the article?
posted by ClarissaWAM at 9:25 AM on March 8, 2020 [1 favorite]