Kadare Ismail - Ismail Kadare: the writer and the dictatorship 1957-1990

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Chairman

Professor Colin Davis, Royal Holloway, University of London

Professor Malcolm Cook, University of Exeter (French)

Professor Robin Fiddian, Wadham College, Oxford (Spanish)

Professor Paul Garner, University of Leeds (Spanish)

Professor Marian Hobson Jeanneret,

Queen Mary University of London (French)

Professor Catriona Kelly, New College, Oxford (Russian)

Professor Martin McLaughlin, Magdalen College, Oxford (Italian)

Professor Martin Maiden, Trinity College, Oxford (Linguistics)

Professor Peter Matthews, St Johns College, Cambridge (Linguistics)

Dr Stephen Parkinson, Linacre College, Oxford (Portuguese)

Professor Ritchie Robertson, St Johns College, Oxford (German)

Professor Lesley Sharpe, University of Exeter (German)

Professor David Shepherd, University of Sheffield (Russian)

Professor Michael Sheringham, All Souls College, Oxford (French)

Professor Alison Sinclair, Clare College, Cambridge (Spanish)

Professor David Treece, Kings College London (Portuguese)

Managing Editor

Dr Graham Nelson

41 Wellington Square, Oxford OX1 2JF, UK

legenda@mhra.org.uk

www.legenda.mhra.org.uk

The Writer and the Dictatorship 19571990

PETER MORGAN

Modern Humanities Research Association and Routledge

2010

First published 2010

Published by the

Modern Humanities Research Association and Routledge

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LEGENDA is an imprint of the

Modern Humanities Research Association and Routledge

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Modern Humanities Research Association and Taylor & Francis 2010

ISBN 978-1-906540-51-7 (hbk)

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TO DIMITRY MORAITIS

I am indebted to many friends, colleagues, and associates who have helped me over the past five years. This is a chance to put my thanks into words.

Ismail Kadare generously gave his time to me on various occasions in Paris and Tirana. Jean-Paul Champseix and Ilir Yzeiri have contributed greatly to my understanding of Kadare, sharing their knowledge of the great writer and his country over years of friendship.

Professor Em. Leslie Bodi and Marian Bodi have provided decades of wise insight into the workings of socialism and into European literature and history. Dr Kati Tonkin, a valued colleague, read and commented on various draft chapters. The copy-editor, Nigel Hope, made many helpful suggestions. Mr Dimitry Moraitis edited and proofread the manuscript.

In Albania, many have helped me either directly or indirectly in amassing a large amount of information. First, I am indebted to those friends and colleagues of Kadare whom I met and interviewed at the beginning of my researches in 2004: Altin Raxhimi, Piro Misha, Remzi Lani, Fatos Lubonja, Artan Puto, Stefan apaliku, and Aurel Plasari. Lisena Gjebrea adopted me on the plane to Tirana and provided a great deal of help in a new environment as well as valuable advice regarding Albanian usage. Mr Piro Misha in Tirana provided help in checking historical and biographical details regarding Kadares life and work.

In France, I have been helped by the organizers of the June 2008 Colloque Kadar in Paris, in particular Vronique Gly, Arianne Eissen, and Jean-Paul Champ seix. The assistance of Mr Daniel Henrot-Dias in preparing photographs for publi cation, and Ms Dominique Fusco of Fayard publishers for helpful advice regarding access and copyright.

In the UK, I thank Dr Anne White, Professor Tim Unwin, Dr Kay Chadwick, Professor Lyndal Roper and Professor Nick Stargardt for valuable discussions.

In the United States, Professors David Clark and Daniel Simon, editors of World Literature Today, and Professors Ernst Fischer, John Cox, and David Bellos helped with information at various points. The indefatigable Robert Elsies translations and studies of Albanian literature and culture have been invaluable to researchers throughout the world. Dr Elsies assistance on matters of Albanian usage and culture is acknowledged with thanks.

In Australia, Mr Eric Lloga provided advice about Albania; my UWA colleagues, Professors Srilata Ravi, Andrew Hunwick, and Hlne Jaccomard helped with French translations, and Dr Mark Edele with Russian. Dr Trevor and Mrs Vi ApSimon offered their country house as a writing retreat for a wonderfully productive month. Lastly, my thanks go to Dr Graham Nelson, Managing Editor of Legenda, for his interest in Kadare and support of this publication.

Needless to say, responsibility for any faults or mistakes lies with me.

The project was supported very generously by the Camargo Foundation. Thanks to the Foundation and its director, Dr Michael Pretina, and to my colleagues in Cassis in 2004, above all Professor Pamela Genova, for hours of fascinating interdisciplinary discussions.