The most debated Albanian books of the last three decades/ How they sparked provocations in the media

2023-04-20 11:11:00, Kulturë CNA

The most debated Albanian books of the last three decades/ How they sparked

Illustrative photo

Politics, literature, reality, eros, anonymity, dictatorship, files, revenge... are some of the reasons that have pushed Albanian politicians and writers to find opportunities to provoke and become media phenomena while avoiding the issues of the day, to reveal the dark, enigmas, mysteries, resentments, the Albanian past. The literary map has singled out ten authors who have ignited media debates and controversies with their stories for five years.

Tom Kuka, the anonymous author who moved the "minds" of the media

The novel "Hide on the cobblestones", published by "Pegi" publications, at the "2016 Book Fair" had a great echo for the anonymity of his name. The publishers have expressed that they have respected the author's wish to hide his real name. While in the preface of the book, the author makes it clear that he is a well-known, public figure and that he did this to get attention for the book, and not the name. The media took months to try to reveal the name rather than talk about the novel, although several critical articles were written praising its story. In fact, the name of the author of "Hide on the cobblestones" began to circulate in the first weeks of the book's release. But no one made it public. Only a short time ago, an "online" portal, "politico.al", guessed about the real name, that of a well-known television journalist. It is about Enkel Demi, although we have so far not had any public appearance from him. On this occasion, not Demi, but the "author" in the shadow has expressed, among other things: "...I started from a great doubt, which ate away at me like a moth. Being often in the public eye, I think that opinions and prejudices have been raised about the character that I represent. That's understandable, human. That's why I decided to present myself with a different name, because I want the reader to read the literature of this book, not its author. Considering literature as the most serious work I have done in my life, I thought of freeing it from the chains that create access to the public through the media, politics, entrepreneurship or other activities". But it still remains a mystery, even if this book will continue under the shadow of anonymity?! It is about Enkel Demi, although we have so far not had any public appearance from him. On this occasion, not Demi, but the "author" in the shadow has expressed, among other things: "...I started from a great doubt, which ate away at me like a moth. Being often in the public eye, I think that opinions and prejudices have been raised about the character that I represent. That's understandable, human. That's why I decided to present myself with a different name, because I want the reader to read the literature of this book, not its author. Considering literature as the most serious work I have done in my life, I thought of freeing it from the chains that create access to the public through the media, politics, entrepreneurship or other activities". But it still remains a mystery, even if this book will continue under the shadow of anonymity?! It is about Enkel Demi, although we have so far not had any public appearance from him. On this occasion, not Demi, but the "author" in the shadow has expressed, among other things: "...I started from a great doubt, which ate away at me like a moth. Being often in the public eye, I think that opinions and prejudices have been raised about the character that I represent. That's understandable, human. That's why I decided to present myself with a different name, because I want the reader to read the literature of this book, not its author. Considering literature as the most serious work I have done in my life, I thought of freeing it from the chains that create access to the public through the media, politics, entrepreneurship or other activities". But it still remains a mystery, even if this book will continue under the shadow of anonymity?! although we have so far no public output from him. On this occasion, not Demi, but the "author" in the shadow has expressed, among other things: "...I started from a great doubt, which ate away at me like a moth. Being often in the public eye, I think that opinions and prejudices have been raised about the character that I represent. That's understandable, human. That's why I decided to present myself with a different name, because I want the reader to read the literature of this book, not its author. Considering literature as the most serious work I have done in my life, I thought of freeing it from the chains that create access to the public through the media, politics, entrepreneurship or other activities". But it still remains a mystery, even if this book will continue under the shadow of anonymity?! although we have so far no public output from him. On this occasion, not Demi, but the "author" in the shadow has expressed, among other things: "...I started from a great doubt, which ate away at me like a moth. Being often in the public eye, I think that opinions and prejudices have been raised about the character that I represent. That's understandable, human. That's why I decided to present myself with a different name, because I want the reader to read the literature of this book, not its author. Considering literature as the most serious work I have done in my life, I thought of freeing it from the chains that create access to the public through the media, politics, entrepreneurship or other activities". But it still remains a mystery, even if this book will continue under the shadow of anonymity?! "...I started from a great doubt, which ate away at me like a moth to wood. Being often in the public eye, I think that opinions and prejudices have been raised about the character that I represent. That's understandable, human. That's why I decided to present myself with a different name, because I want the reader to read the literature of this book, not its author. Considering literature as the most serious work I have done in my life, I thought of freeing it from the chains that create access to the public through the media, politics, entrepreneurship or other activities". But it still remains a mystery, even if this book will continue under the shadow of anonymity?! "...I started from a great doubt, which ate away at me like a moth to wood. Being often in the public eye, I think that opinions and prejudices have been raised about the character that I represent. That's understandable, human. That's why I decided to present myself with a different name, because I want the reader to read the literature of this book, not its author. Considering literature as the most serious work I have done in my life, I thought of freeing it from the chains that create access to the public through the media, politics, entrepreneurship or other activities". But it still remains a mystery, even if this book will continue under the shadow of anonymity?! That's why I decided to present myself with a different name, because I want the reader to read the literature of this book, not its author. Considering literature as the most serious work I have done in my life, I thought of freeing it from the chains that create access to the public through the media, politics, entrepreneurship or other activities". But it still remains a mystery, even if this book will continue under the shadow of anonymity?! That's why I decided to present myself with a different name, because I want the reader to read the literature of this book, not its author. Considering literature as the most serious work I have done in my life, I thought of freeing it from the chains that create access to the public through the media, politics, entrepreneurship or other activities". But it still remains a mystery, even if this book will continue under the shadow of anonymity?!

Rudi Erebara, with the European prize for the immorality of the dictatorship

After the 90s, it is one of the unique, voluminous novels that completely creates the story of a character, that of the well-known painter Edison Gjergo, who was sentenced precisely for the work that gave the novel its title: "The Epic of the Morning Stars". Published by "Ombra GVG", Rudi Erebara brings the second novel from the dictatorship with a character look revealing the immorality of the dictatorship through atypical characters. It became the winner of the European Prize for Literature 2017, and is in the process of being translated into many European languages. The novel is set in Albania during the Cold War, where it tells the story of Sulejman, the Albanian painter persecuted by the communist regime. The story begins on October 16, 1978, when dictator Enver Hoxha celebrates his seventieth birthday. The year that marks the beginning of the novel, and deals with the continuation of surveillance, prison sentences of ordinary people and artists. They are acute conditions that carry the memory and moral degeneration of the dictatorship. Brussels has treated this book as it looks like a novel where the utilitarian culture of a country is read, as well as other creators, who participated in the competition for the European Prize for Literature 2017 receiving the evaluation of a good literature, ready to was recognized across borders, and that help build intercultural dialogue. Dictatorship, an almost operational literary situation, in India who will be able to read your novel, what still worries the writer today? Fatally not running away from the mentality, the ideology... Erebara answered for the "Mapo" newspaper: "The book is based on real events. It received the title of the composition of the painter Edison Gjergo, as a tribute to his memory, as an artist sentenced for a painting to eight years in prison and forced labor in a mine. The book is the deep concern of the lack of national memory." After receiving the award, this is one of the few cases that critics turn surprising attention to an almost classic Albanian novel.

Rita Petro, provoking a society with just one word...

"Hole" by the poet Rita Petro, published by "Albas", won as the best poetry book for 2014

The award was given by Edi Rama and Mirela Kumbaro. But this poetic volume took on the highest provocative dimension precisely after the assessment by the prime minister, while for the poet this provocation starts with the feeling of expressing erotic feelings that start not only within her, but also in the being of every girl or woman. She projects in poetry the realizations and unrealizations of these dreams, lighting the lamps of eros with red light. But, the poet who shocked the entire Albanian society through a poetic volume, carried only in one word, seems to have responded with the subsequent poetic volume, "Kënga e turme", accompanied by sketches and erotic images, but no longer with songs Like that; the relationship between intimacy, eros and a creative personality of the poet with the utopian claim to change society... However, this volume did not rehabilitate him at all. The poems of "Vrima" continue to have provocative echoes. For this, Petro replied to the "Mapo" newspaper that: "Initially, I found myself unprepared. I have never been the center of attention of so many people... The 'hole' turned into an epidemic, a wonder that did not last 3 days, but more than a week and continues today. At that time there were no fb statuses without mentioning 'The Hole', no conversation of people without making fun of 'The Hole'. It was as if society had been waiting for the word 'Hole' to dump all the bad food it had been eating for many, many years into a communal pan. And at this point I and many other like-minded people say, better it happened that way. This thing has turned into adrealia for me today and I know very well that this event is a very big plus in the biography of a poet. To provoke an entire society with just one word is no small thing; to write verses that shock is a great thing. And for me, that I did everything spontaneously, I think that one day it will turn into value, because if my poems had no value, they would not be shocking. In fact, I had felt a kind of shock in my people who first read 'The Hole', not yet published. When I read some fragments of poems to them, I could see how they remained and reacted late. There I began to realize that I had written a good book. But I never predicted such a volcano, maybe instinctively yes, because the book 'The Hole' was written 15 years after the publication of 'Live Song' and in me were gathered like a volcanic lava endless sensations, which needed to explode. In all contexts 'The Hole' is the volcano, which destroys and at the same time, a new life is recycled over it."

"International" by Ylljet Alicka, the banned book, which was rescued from Brussels

"International" by Ylljet Alickaj is considered one of the most interesting books that has sparked debate, and for this reason, the publisher of "Tirana times" decided to reprint it, in three languages: Albanian, English and French. The publisher relates the echo that it had in France, Norway and Italy to the quality of the book, but also to the handling of the literary subject. In his confession, Alickaj talked about the history of the publication, the vicissitudes he went through during the reception of "International", seeing it as a separate story for literary subjects, which he will write as an epilogue in the novel. But, for the personal reason of the writer, and for the history of the writing of the book, the writer Besnik Mustafaj has responded, suggesting to Alicka to leave aside the personal history, the victimization from the vicissitudes he has gone through, to let the work take its own life. On the other hand, Mustafaj has given a perspective on the work, unlike others, saying that the novel reveals a phenomenon of the Albanian mentality that after the fall of the great idol, the dictatorship, in the absence of internal idols, Albanians show their weaknesses towards this community, the international who have failed to master, manage these weaknesses. Further, Mustafaj explains that on these weaknesses, the complexity of the international protagonism is created... it is a willingness that the writer connects his criticism with this environment, which is quite old, since Adam in man's willingness to vice. One of the books that has provoked politics and internationals, giving the writer the status of engaged, for which there is a history of prohibition and blocking of the work, which he confessed for the first time in "Mapo". after its presentation... A book brought with the motive that even after 100 years, internationals continue to have an influencing and supporting force in Albania, but in human relations history says the opposite... But what has marked the memory point of this debate there are two facts: the first, the history of the banning of the book; and, the reply he had with the writer, Besnik Mustafaj, who said that "the victimization of Aliçkaj is not good for the book. Let the work live.” who said that "the victimization of Aliçka is not good for the book. Let the work live.” who said that "the victimization of Aliçka is not good for the book. Let the work live.”

Ben Blushi provoked again with the novel "The Candidate"

It is among the circulation records, the sale of the book "The Candidate" by Ben Blush, from the publications "Mapo Editions". Hundreds of copies sold that have drawn public attention, but also media attention on a political treatment that is almost prophetic when we see it today. A novel that, as expected, opened great debates between today's politics and media, narrated with style and cynicism, with the message that whatever the connections with reality, it is about art! Ben Blushi is an unmistakable stereotype with his literary chops. Just a few days after the release of his latest book, The Candidate, as with his previous books, Blushi crosses imaginary boundaries to unleash his fantasy torpedo on the political events of our day. Political Albania in the eyes of a politician, but also of a person who knows the inside of the media, sounds provocative. But Blushi has already been defined as a literary phenomenon for placing the historical subject in a real environment, causing strong debates, for and against. Thus, the fourth test of this author confronts the media environment, creating an opportunity for "transparency" on concrete names and full of allusions to characters. How much irony and literal play with the tools of art makes the cynical writer? The candidate of Blush undertakes to tell us how the elections are held in Albania... It is about one of the candidates for the Municipality of Bassen, who dies suddenly, before the opening of the election campaign and, nevertheless, wins. His name is Kadim Sedini and he is running for mayor in the city of Baseni. The name is very similar to that of Qazim Sejdini, who regained the Municipality of Elbasan, where Blushi is a deputy. Irony on a very cynical political background.

Kuteli and the publication "Moldavian Nights"! The debate of the heirs with Kadare

With the publication in 2015 of "Moldavian Nights" by Mitrush Kuteli, where in the preface the heirs attack the writer Ismail Kadare, one of the darkest stories, heavy with accusations, but receiving answers for the first time, reopens in the media. The debate in the media focuses on two writers: Kuteli, who is gone, and Kadare as a witness. Kuteli's heirs have expressed concern over the accusation that burdens the writer, for being involved in the Romanian fascist army, while Kadare has expressed his belief that it is the Kosovo issue that took the writer to prison. Kadare responded to this accusation: "I did not make any compensation for Dhimitër Pasco's participation in the battle of Stalingrad. On the contrary, I wrote that "according to a not very reliable whisper", this accusation or fiction has spread. I think that the expression "according to a not very reliable whisper" is too clear not to be read as its opposite." In the preface to "Moldavian Nights", with the title "The Ghost of Stalingrad and Mitrush Kuteli", the heirs clarify some dark sides that are connected between Kuteli and Kadare, but especially in the opening and recognition of the writer. In the introduction to "Moldavian Nights", it is clarified that the mobilization was forced, since Kuteli lived and worked in Romania as a Romanian citizen. In "Moldavian Nights", the heirs think, perhaps for the first time, that this accusation came from literary circles. With this accusation, they argue how the "silence" towards Kutel started, the rejection. Was Kuteli in the "iron army"?! This question re-opened the debate in the media two years ago. The family members write in the introduction that neither the accusations nor the accuser have been documented yet.

The big debate about: "Kadare denounced in the 101 documents of the 'Palace of Dreams'", by Dashnor Kaloç

It has been one of the longest debates in time, on what was expected with the publication of the denouncing documents for Ismail Kadare. Journalist and researcher Dashnor Kaloçi, after the first book "Kadare denounced", with "Kadare in the documents of the 'Palace of Dreams'", both publications of "UET Press", - has brought new evidence for the writer, reopening the debate of unfinished, which is directly related to the opening of files and especially the denunciation of the crimes of communism. It has been a difficult debate to overcome, as it is already known that the issues of files and denunciations continue to be hot in Albanian environments where the law on opening files has not yet been approved. So this initiative started by the writer Ismail Kadare was expected from the beginning to stimulate this debate. Names, characters, events that could not pass in silence involving almost all the media. The critics of this book are divided according to their side towards the writer Kadare, which in this case files as one of the most heated debates with the publication of this book, as the publisher has expressed, and the preparer does not undertake to declare Kadare a dissident, referring to himself what the writer said, nor make a selective interpretation of the documents. The history of Kadare with the dictatorship is the narrative in these 101 complete and accurate documents, which for the first time is taken over by an independent institution, such as private universities, in this case UET, which enters the logic of a research institution - scientific. "Was the court's favorite writer as some say, or was the writer always endangered by colleagues and others who surveilled and denounced him behind his back? According to the book, the latter is a truth that cannot be denied. "With this book, we wanted to put an end to an idea created during these 25 years as if Ismail Kadareja was there, along with Enver Hoxha, and signed deportations, deportations and shootings together with him. Of course, this was an exaggerated metaphor, but this is how the impression of many intellectual environments was created. We wanted to show this truth and we believe that this book-document with 101 documents gives this answer". and co-signed expulsions, deportations and shootings. Of course, this was an exaggerated metaphor, but this is how the impression of many intellectual environments was created. We wanted to show this truth and we believe that this book-document with 101 documents gives this answer". and co-signed expulsions, deportations and shootings. Of course, this was an exaggerated metaphor, but this is how the impression of many intellectual environments was created. We wanted to show this truth and we believe that this book-document with 101 documents gives this answer".

Bashkim Shehu's controversy with the Security files: The book is not political pornography

Bashkim Shehu has provoked. He has written a novel, "Dictionary on the mystery of the files", but from all the pronouncements in the media, he has remained steadfast, saying that he has no knowledge about the files and the State Security. The novel is just a fiction - said Shehu, even yesterday, in the promotion of the book, as well as from the "wasps" of the media to get to the bottom of this provocation. It was about a headline in a daily newspaper, to which the writer reacted that he was totally misunderstood with his novel and that the book should be read as a literary work and not detached from a political context. While after this noise in the media, Shehu said: My book is not political pornography. Among other things, his words were: "...The end of this novel coincides with the announcement that the files will be opened, and its publication coincides with something that will be carried out in this building, in a hall, which is entered from the other entrance, when next week the book will be discussed for the opening of the files. There is a problem here that, misunderstandings can arise to take the book as it is not, because it can bring confusion. The confusion of fiction with reality and the publication of a literary work make it seen as the sensation of the day, and I notice these days, that many pages from this novel have been written in newspapers, an example, a title: Son of Mehmet Shehu, novel about State insurance. This may seem misunderstanding, not only in relation to the age by putting this title hints to the reader that he should know things about state insurance, and the context of the novel is different when you read it in the book, and different with a fragment of read in a political newspaper. People think it is a real event, we find out as a sensational event that some newspapers are prone to. My wish is for the reader to have the satisfaction of seeing it as a literary creation and not seeing it as a 'reality show' or as political pornography".

Muç Nano's provocation with the book "Sandwich", Skenderbeu with a Slavic mother?!

A statement by the publicist and journalist Mustafa Nano, as a special guest at the summer leadership school, that UET organized a few days ago in Vlora, has caused a stir among researchers, intellectuals and historians for several days... The issue is historical, when Muç Nano has said, among other things, in front of UET students and graduates that: Skënderbeu is more Christian than Albanian. His mother was Slavic. It is not the first time that Nano attracts mass attention through his writings, or publicity books, such as the recent case of the publication "Sandwich. Is it good to be Albanian?", "UETPress" publications, promoted a few days ago in the premises of UET. When asked about his latest publication, Nano focused on issues of ethnicity and Albanian identity, as one of his favorite topics. where he has instigated clashes quite a few times. Among other things, the journalist expressed: "...in the century XIV ethnicity, national identity, has not been very important. We say that Skenderbeu was ours, an Albanian, he was more Christian when he became famous than Albanian. He had a Slavic mother, ethnicity was not very important then, marriages between Albanians and Serbs were done without any problem".

As for the immediate reaction on the social networks of many well-known personalities of Albanian public and intellectual life, Mustafa Nano has responded in the newspaper "Mapo" on Monday, in the article titled: "Skënderbeu was an Albanian with a Serbian mother. What is there to be angry about?” There, Nano took into consideration the fact that it is not the first time that this issue has come to light, especially after the 90s. Nano has called hysteria all the noise that has arisen through the media about his phrase, during the conversation with UET students and graduates in Vlorë, a debate that comes after the publication of the book related to various issues of the history of Albania, where it deals also with the origin of Skanderbeg (it's about "Sandwich").

How was the book "Kurban" by Prime Minister Edi Rama commented

The publication of the book "Kurban" by Edi Rama in 2012, shortly before the 2013 elections, was a surprise. There was more curiosity about the book than what the names were and who the current prime minister was commenting on, concluding the opinions themselves in the paradigm on the politician. The media exploded with headlines and "revenge" stories from the book. While, the book is labeled "as Rama's political emergency", this book did not have the format of usual books with memories, confessions or autobiographical nature, which are not highly valued as a form of communication, due to the relationship with the truth. The case of the book "Kurban" by Edi Rama was not like that.

The book has some impressions from his past as mayor, which are mixed with the political author, fleeing from the memories. This is how it has been seen mostly by the media. While, everywhere in his notebook, appears almost subconsciously, like the scribbles in the notebook of a distracted student, the same name, the same character of the actuality, that of the stalker, the one who ruined everything: in life from the mayor municipality, in his life as a socialist, in his personal life and even his confession, it seems that he has ruined it: Saliu, as he calls him in the book, as well as in the press conferences. Although the book is a different form of communication from public forums, Rama maintains the same tone and public discourse when he talks about Sali Berisha, painting him blacker than the devil and coming off as unreliable in this version as in the wrong public discourse towards him. Hot content, worthy of revolutionary leaflets, without the quietness and reflective clarity of a book.

But there has been a lot of talk in the media, under close observation, about the "Kurbani list", this probably focused attention, as always, when commenting approaches come, on who could "be the victim" of Rama. It has been commented as "a vengeful trip of the prime minister, comparing it to that of Edmond Dantes, the hero of Alexander Dymas's book, The Count of Monte Cristo. Just like Dantes, who previously prepared his plan from the facts that Abbot Faria confessed to him, so Edi Rama wrote Kurban, as a platform for revenge in case he would win". The well-known publicist Artur Zheji would write in the "Mapo" newspaper that this comparison is more like a conspiracy theory.

Published in "Mapo" in 2016, by Violeta Murati