Albanians mourned Ismail Kadare, their "greatest cultural monument," Monday after the acclaimed novelist died of a heart attack at a Tirana hospital at the age of 88.
According to a report by Punch, Prime Minister Edi Rama led the tributes, with Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani praising Kadare’s "remarkable contribution to Albanian and world literature."
Known for his powerful novels such as "Broken April" and "The General of the Dead Army," Kadare used metaphor and quiet sarcasm to chronicle Albania's turbulent history under communist dictator Enver Hoxha.
Despite facing accusations of betrayal when he defected to France in 1990, Kadare dismissed claims of enjoying special favors under Hoxha's regime with ironic humor.
Prime Minister Rama reflected on these controversies, thanking Kadare for the "extraordinary pleasure" his works brought and acknowledging the envy his success stirred among critics.
Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti praised Kadare as a "beacon of creativity, humanity, and individual genius" who skillfully illuminated life under dictatorship through his profound literary voice.
Although Kadare never received the Nobel Prize, he was honored with the inaugural Man Booker International Prize in 2005 for his lifetime achievements in literature, praised by judges for his storytelling reminiscent of Homer.
Translated into over 40 languages, Kadare's works have had a profound impact on Albanian literature and society, reshaping both during and after the era of dictatorship.
In one of his final interviews, Kadare reflected on how literature empowered him to challenge repression and navigate through adversity, expressing gratitude for the transformative power of storytelling.