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Enri Lala
Feb 123 min read
Young Ismail Kadare's 'Longing for Albania'
I recently discovered an old poem of Ismail Kadare’s. It made the writer who is often mythologized by the Albanian public, both by those...
Enri Lala
Oct 3, 20238 min read
Ancient Peoples, Modern Narratives: Forming National Identities in Albania and Iran
A few months ago, halfway through my History of Achaemenid Persia class, I came to Professor John Lee to present a few ideas for a final...
Enri Lala
Jul 24, 20234 min read
Mit'hat Frashëri's Historic Speech to Communist-Occupied Albania (1949)
In August of 1949, Mit'hat Frashëri, the descendant of the foremost Albanian family and former leader of the Balli Kombëtar (National...
Muamer Hysenaj Hoti
Jun 13, 20234 min read
The Legend from Hoti: Marko Miljanov’s “Life and Customs of the Albanians”
The Albanian tradition of hospitality and kinship ranks among the most ancient societal codes in the Balkans. This tradition is most...
Enri Lala
May 17, 20233 min read
A Poet Against A Brutal Regime: Villson Blloshmi's "Sahara"
Vilson Blloshmi was born on March 18th, 1948 in a village near Librazhd, Albania to a kulak family of landowning peasants. It was a...
Enri Lala
Feb 12, 20235 min read
The Albanian Ideal
Mit’hat Frashëri was the son of Abdyl and nephew of Sami and Naim Frashëri, three of the most important leaders of the Rilindja...
Enri Lala
Dec 22, 20225 min read
"Red Pashas": Ismail Kadare's Most Important Poem
Ismail Kadare remains the greatest master of the Albanian language. It is through a stunning literary talent that his works broke down...
Enri Lala
Nov 27, 20222 min read
Ismail Qemali Declares Albania's Independence
The date is November 28th, 1912. From the balcony of Xhemil Bey Vlora’s house, the forty delegates unveil the national flag and declare...
Enri Lala
Nov 23, 20222 min read
Napoleon’s Letter to Ali Pasha of Tepelena
Ali Pasha remains one of the most fascinating figures in Albanian history.
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