TIRANA, Oct.22 – November 9 is to be the date the Spanish Ambassador remembers the Albanian writer, Petro Marko, for his work dedicated to Spain and its literary culture. Marko was a member of one of the international brigades of the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939). The program will include lectures on the contribution of Albanian fighters that included Mehmet Shehu, Sk쯤er Luarasi, Justina Shkupi. This event follows a discussion held some months ago with the participation of Spanish historians, that identified mistakes making in the historical record of the past and analyzed the role of dictatorships.
Hasta la vista
“Hasta La Vista,” Petro Marko’s book published on the 20th anniversary of the Spanish War in 1959, is the most complete work of this Albanian fighter. The work portrays real events and characters he was involved with during the battles. Other books also referred to his experience such as “The War Of Spain (1936-1939): Notes And Memories From Albanian Volunteers,” published by the Institute of the Party’s History in 1959, with a review of Mehmet Shehu, himself a fighter in Spain; a volume with translations of Spanish poets and the poem “Lejania” , and verses that came out only after his death. These publications will be launched on November 9th with the support of the Spanish Embassy. Marta Maria Garcia Suarez has translated all of Marko’s writings on Spain and is going to present the novel “Hasta La Vista”.
The remarkable character of the writer who fought against tyranny and dictatorship in a foreign country has been described in a book called “Interview With Oneself”. “Hasta La Vista” was censured from its first publication, the original manuscript has never been published and is in the possession of the author’s family. For the first time, fascism was battled against in Spain with international brigades and volunteers from all over the world, including future literary figures with global dimensions such as Hemingway and Dos Passos. Ana Perez, head of the Association Of The Brigades Volunteers Of Freedom, comes form Spain to present the Albanian contribution to this war
Special gifts
The family of Petro Marko will make available all the documents, original manuscripts and whatever memories the writer has left in connection to his experience in Spain. A special gift will be made to the Spanish Embassy by the family’s daughter, Arianita, of the table where the writer used to work. According to the daughter, it has been Petro Marko’s dream to have the Spanish embassy represented in Albania, hence she will give her father’s precious tuido table which, had been a wedding gift to Petro Marko and his bride Safo, during the period of 1945-46.
