Acclaimed Albanian writer Ismail Kadare, known for his novels that chronicled the fate of his country and its people under communist dictator Enver Hoxha, died on July 1, 2024, in Tirana at the age of 88. Born in Gjirokaster, Albania, Kadare graduated from Tirana University's History and Philology Faculty and studied at Moscow's Maxim Gorky Literature Institute. Through his novels like 'Broken April' and 'The General of the Dead Army', he used metaphor and quiet sarcasm to depict the grotesque reality of life under Hoxha, despite being branded a traitor when he defected to France in 1990.
Kadare was an eternal bridesmaid for the Nobel Prize in literature but continued writing until his death. He dismissed accusations that he enjoyed a privileged position under Hoxha and instead saw literature as a force that helped him overcome the impossible.
Ismail Kadare's works, which included over 80 novels, plays, screenplays, poetry, essays, and story collections were translated into 45 languages. He left behind his wife Helena and daughters Gresa and Besiana.
Despite his international acclaim and numerous awards including the inaugural International Booker Prize in 2005, Kadare resisted calls to become Albania's president.
Born on January 28, 1936, Kadare studied at Moscow's Maxim Gorky Literature Institute and graduated from Tirana University's History and Philology Faculty. He was recalled from Moscow after Hoxha split with the Soviet Union. During his career, he won several international awards and had long been mentioned as a possible contender for the Nobel Prize in literature.
Kadare's works were known for their delicate writing and often attracted major international attention when they were translated into French and published in the West. This recognition abroad shielded him from more violent retribution that Albania's communists reserved for dissidents.
After the fall of communism in Albania, Kadare resisted calls from political parties or politicians to become the country's president.
