Kadare receives ‘De Rada’ award in Tirana book fair

“I feel appreciated for this prize named after this genius who oriented the Albanian literature toward the European literature as it was losing its pace. De Rada was a great poet and a prophet of the future of Albania,” said Kadare.
TIRANA, Nov. 19 – Internationally renowned Albanian author Ismail Kadare was handed the special Jeronim De Rada award in this year’s 17th edition of the Tirana Book Fair, the largest book event bringing together Albanian publishing houses. The perennial Albanian nominee for the Nobel Prize in Literature was awarded the special prize on the 200th birth anniversary of De Rada, who is not only the best known writer of Italian- Albanian literature but also the foremost figure of the Albanian nationalist movement in nineteenth-century Italy.
Speaking at the prize award ceremony, Kadare said he felt moved for the award which is named after the first genius of the Albanian national renaissance.
“I feel appreciated for this prize named after this genius who oriented the Albanian literature toward the European literature as it was losing its pace. De Rada was a great poet and a prophet of the future of Albania,” said Kadare.
An internationally renowned poet, novelist and essayist, Ismail Kadare has been perennial candidate for the Nobel Prize for literature. His international acclaim for his works peaked in 2005 when he won the Man Booker International Prize.
The best author prize in this year’s edition went to Arben Dedja for his “Histori Ekskalogjike” (Eschatological Story) book for his style and language and sense of humour in portraying life under dictatorship.
The best translator award went to Alina Karaulli for bringing into Albanian the “Jane Eyre” novel by English writer Charlotte Bront뮠
A gratitude prize was also awarded to renowned late translator Petro Zheji.
Organizers said some 80,000 people visited this year’s edition of the Tirana Book Fair held at the Palace of Congresses from November 12 to 16.
Some 100 publishing houses from Albania, Kosovo, Macedonia and Montenegro participated in the 17th edition of the Tirana book fair which was held amid concerns that book sales have dropped by as much as 40 percent and that many bookshops are being closed down.
The Tirana Times publishing house and the Albanian Institute for International Studies (AIIS) also participated in the book fair with a joint stand in the first floor of the exhibition area with dozens of book titles.