Swiss writer publishes monograph of Skanderbeg

Oliver Lens Schmitt, author of “Venetian Albania” publishes new book about the Albanian national hero Skanderbeg. The monograph comes to the Albanian reader after a hard work of research through the archives of Milan, Venice, Paris, Dubrovnik etc. the author brings new unrevealed facts about the Albanian national hero, Skanderbeg, dealing with it in many different points of view, not just following a chorological order of the events. Schmitt reveals a new critical point of view of the history of Skanderbeg, often mystified by nationalist historians, crashing down most of the schemes deeply enrooted in the minds of the Albanians regarding Skanderbeg.
The book is published due to the support of the Swiss Cooperation Fund. It consists in five parts. The first one “The man from Dibra” describes the childhood and youth of Skanderbeg and the first insurgencies. In the second part, the author describes the place and environment that surrounded the Albanian hero. He tells about Skanderbeg ruling period, the successors, the relatives, the rivals, the enemies, the betrayals and about his absolute charisma as a leader.
The third part is “A hero of Renaissance” where he speaks about Skanderbeg’s journeys through Italy and Pope Piu’s plans to undertake the crusades. The fourth chapter tells about the war against the ottomans, while the fifth chapter is focused on the fame and whatever came after the death of Skanderbeg and also how he was depicted later in history.