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賲賳 兀毓丕丿 丿賵乇賵賳鬲賷賳責
鬲鬲夭賵噩 丿賵乇賵賳鬲賷賳 亘卮丕亘 賲賳 亘賱丕丿 賳丕卅賷丞貙 毓賰爻 丕賱丕毓乇丕賮 賵乇睾賲 廿乇丕丿丞 丕賱兀賴賱貙 亘廿爻鬲孬賳丕亍 丕禺賷賴丕 賯爻胤賳胤賷賳 丕賱匕賷 兀賯爻賲 亘卮乇賮賷賴 "丕賱亘賷爻丕" 兀賳 賷毓賷丿 丿賵乇賵賳鬲賷賳 廿賱賶 賵丕賱丿鬲賴丕 賰賱賲丕 丨賳賻賾鬲 廿賱賷賴丕. 賵賷卮丕亍 丕賱賯丿乇 兀賳 賷購賯鬲賱 兀禺賵丞 丿賵乇賵賳鬲賷賳 丕賱鬲爻毓丞 廿孬乇 賲毓乇賰丞 禺丕囟賵賴丕 囟丿 丕賱睾夭丕丞. 賵賷胤賵賷 丕賱乇丿賶 賯爻胤賳胤賷賳 氐丕丨亘 丕賱賯爻賲.
賵亘毓丿 孬賱丕孬 爻賳賵丕鬲 毓賱賶 夭賮丕賮 丿賵乇賵賳鬲賷賳 鬲毓賵丿 匕丕鬲 賱賷賱丞 廿賱賶 亘賷鬲 兀賴賱賴丕 亘乇賮賯丞 賮丕乇爻 賯丕賱鬲 廿賳賴 兀禺賵賴丕 賯爻胤賳胤賷賳!
兀賷賰賵賳 丕賱賮丕乇爻 丕賱匕賷 兀毓丕丿賴丕 賴賵 賯爻胤賳胤賷賳 賳賮爻賴 丕賱賲夭丨夭丨 賯亘乇賴 賵丕賱賯丕卅賲 廿賱賶 賯爻賲賴貙 兀賲 鬲乇丕賴 夭賳丿賷賯丕賸 賷賯氐丿 夭乇毓 丕賱卮賯丕賯 賵丕賱亘賱亘賱丞 賮賷 氐賮賵賮 丕賱賲丐賲賳賷賳責
"賲賳 兀毓丕丿 丿賵乇賵賳鬲賷賳" 賴賷 亘賴匕丕 丕賱賲毓賳賶 乇賵丕賷丞 丕賱兀爻卅賱丞貙 賵賲睾夭賱 丕賱乇賵丕賷丕鬲 丕賱鬲賷 鬲丨亘賰 亘禺賷胤 爻乇賷 賵丕丨丿 賴賵 丕賱兀爻胤賵乇丞.
賵亘毓丿 孬賱丕孬 爻賳賵丕鬲 毓賱賶 夭賮丕賮 丿賵乇賵賳鬲賷賳 鬲毓賵丿 匕丕鬲 賱賷賱丞 廿賱賶 亘賷鬲 兀賴賱賴丕 亘乇賮賯丞 賮丕乇爻 賯丕賱鬲 廿賳賴 兀禺賵賴丕 賯爻胤賳胤賷賳!
兀賷賰賵賳 丕賱賮丕乇爻 丕賱匕賷 兀毓丕丿賴丕 賴賵 賯爻胤賳胤賷賳 賳賮爻賴 丕賱賲夭丨夭丨 賯亘乇賴 賵丕賱賯丕卅賲 廿賱賶 賯爻賲賴貙 兀賲 鬲乇丕賴 夭賳丿賷賯丕賸 賷賯氐丿 夭乇毓 丕賱卮賯丕賯 賵丕賱亘賱亘賱丞 賮賷 氐賮賵賮 丕賱賲丐賲賳賷賳責
"賲賳 兀毓丕丿 丿賵乇賵賳鬲賷賳" 賴賷 亘賴匕丕 丕賱賲毓賳賶 乇賵丕賷丞 丕賱兀爻卅賱丞貙 賵賲睾夭賱 丕賱乇賵丕賷丕鬲 丕賱鬲賷 鬲丨亘賰 亘禺賷胤 爻乇賷 賵丕丨丿 賴賵 丕賱兀爻胤賵乇丞.
166 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1979
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About the author
Ismail Kadare
301听books1,670听followersIsmail Kadare (also spelled Kadar茅) was an Albanian novelist and poet. He has been a leading literary figure in Albania since the 1960s. He focused on short stories until the publication of his first novel, The General of the Dead Army. In 1996 he became a lifetime member of the Academy of Moral and Political Sciences of France. In 1992, he was awarded the Prix mondial Cino Del Duca; in 2005, he won the inaugural Man Booker International Prize, in 2009 the Prince of Asturias Award of Arts, and in 2015 the Jerusalem Prize. He has divided his time between Albania and France since 1990. Kadare has been mentioned as a possible recipient for the Nobel Prize in Literature several times. His works have been published in about 30 languages.
Ismail Kadare was born in 1936 in Gjirokast毛r, in the south of Albania. His education included studies at the University of Tirana and then the Gorky Institute for World Literature in Moscow, a training school for writers and critics.
In 1960 Kadare returned to Albania after the country broke ties with the Soviet Union, and he became a journalist and published his first poems.
His first novel, The General of the Dead Army, sprang from a short story, and its success established his name in Albania and enabled Kadare to become a full-time writer.
Kadare's novels draw on Balkan history and legends. They are obliquely ironic as a result of trying to withstand political scrutiny. Among his best known books are Chronicle in Stone (1977), Broken April (1978), and The Concert (1988), considered the best novel of the year 1991 by the French literary magazine Lire.
In 1990, Kadare claimed political asylum in France, issuing statements in favour of democratisation. During the ordeal, he stated that "dictatorship and authentic literature are incompatible. The writer is the natural enemy of dictatorship."
Ismail Kadare was born in 1936 in Gjirokast毛r, in the south of Albania. His education included studies at the University of Tirana and then the Gorky Institute for World Literature in Moscow, a training school for writers and critics.
In 1960 Kadare returned to Albania after the country broke ties with the Soviet Union, and he became a journalist and published his first poems.
His first novel, The General of the Dead Army, sprang from a short story, and its success established his name in Albania and enabled Kadare to become a full-time writer.
Kadare's novels draw on Balkan history and legends. They are obliquely ironic as a result of trying to withstand political scrutiny. Among his best known books are Chronicle in Stone (1977), Broken April (1978), and The Concert (1988), considered the best novel of the year 1991 by the French literary magazine Lire.
In 1990, Kadare claimed political asylum in France, issuing statements in favour of democratisation. During the ordeal, he stated that "dictatorship and authentic literature are incompatible. The writer is the natural enemy of dictatorship."
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July 14, 2022
丕賱賰丕鬲亘 丕賱兀賱亘丕賳賷 丕爻賲丕毓賷賱 賰丕丿丕乇賷賴 賲賴鬲賲 亘丕賱鬲乇丕孬 賵丕賱兀丿亘 丕賱卮毓亘賷
賴賳丕 賷毓鬲賲丿 毓賱賶 兀爻胤賵乇丞 兀賱亘丕賳賷丞 賲卮賴賵乇丞 賵賲賳 禺賱丕賱賴丕 賷丨賰賷 毓賳 丕賱賵丕賯毓
賯氐丞 丕賱卮丕亘 丕賱匕賷 賷賯賵賲 賲賳 賯亘乇賴 賱賱賵賮丕亍 亘毓賴丿 鬲毓賴丿 亘賴 賱兀賲賴 賯亘賱 賲賵鬲賴
鬲毓賵丿 丿賵乇賵賳鬲賷賳 廿賱賶 兀賲賴丕 賮賷 亘賱丿丞 兀賱亘丕賳賷丞 氐睾賷乇丞 賵賷丿賵乇 爻丐丕賱 亘賷賳 兀賴賱 丕賱亘賱丿丞
賲賳 丕賱匕賷 兀毓丕丿 丿賵乇賵賳鬲賷賳 賲賳 亘賷鬲 夭賵噩賴丕 丕賱亘毓賷丿 廿賱賶 丕賱亘賱丿丞
賷爻鬲賲乇 丕賱亘丨孬 賵鬲鬲丿禺賱 丕賱賰賳賷爻丞 賵鬲夭丿丕丿 丕賱兀賯丕賵賷賱 賵丕賱丨賰丕賷丕鬲
賵丕賱賰賱 賷噩賷亘 毓賳 丕賱爻丐丕賱 亘丨爻亘 丕賱賯賳丕毓丕鬲 賵丕賱賲氐丕賱丨 丕賱賲禺鬲賱賮丞
賵賮賷 丕賱賳賴丕賷丞 鬲馗賱 丕賱賯賵丕賳賷賳 丕賱兀禺賱丕賯賷丞 賵丕賱丕賳爻丕賳賷丞 丕賱鬲賷 鬲丨賰賲 丕賱亘卮乇
兀賰孬乇 兀賴賲賷丞 賲賳 賲毓乇賮丞 賲賳 兀毓丕丿 丿賵乇賵賳鬲賷賳
乇賵丕賷丞 賱胤賷賮丞 賲賰鬲賵亘丞 亘兀爻賱賵亘 亘爻賷胤 賵賲卮賵賯
賴賳丕 賷毓鬲賲丿 毓賱賶 兀爻胤賵乇丞 兀賱亘丕賳賷丞 賲卮賴賵乇丞 賵賲賳 禺賱丕賱賴丕 賷丨賰賷 毓賳 丕賱賵丕賯毓
賯氐丞 丕賱卮丕亘 丕賱匕賷 賷賯賵賲 賲賳 賯亘乇賴 賱賱賵賮丕亍 亘毓賴丿 鬲毓賴丿 亘賴 賱兀賲賴 賯亘賱 賲賵鬲賴
鬲毓賵丿 丿賵乇賵賳鬲賷賳 廿賱賶 兀賲賴丕 賮賷 亘賱丿丞 兀賱亘丕賳賷丞 氐睾賷乇丞 賵賷丿賵乇 爻丐丕賱 亘賷賳 兀賴賱 丕賱亘賱丿丞
賲賳 丕賱匕賷 兀毓丕丿 丿賵乇賵賳鬲賷賳 賲賳 亘賷鬲 夭賵噩賴丕 丕賱亘毓賷丿 廿賱賶 丕賱亘賱丿丞
賷爻鬲賲乇 丕賱亘丨孬 賵鬲鬲丿禺賱 丕賱賰賳賷爻丞 賵鬲夭丿丕丿 丕賱兀賯丕賵賷賱 賵丕賱丨賰丕賷丕鬲
賵丕賱賰賱 賷噩賷亘 毓賳 丕賱爻丐丕賱 亘丨爻亘 丕賱賯賳丕毓丕鬲 賵丕賱賲氐丕賱丨 丕賱賲禺鬲賱賮丞
賵賮賷 丕賱賳賴丕賷丞 鬲馗賱 丕賱賯賵丕賳賷賳 丕賱兀禺賱丕賯賷丞 賵丕賱丕賳爻丕賳賷丞 丕賱鬲賷 鬲丨賰賲 丕賱亘卮乇
兀賰孬乇 兀賴賲賷丞 賲賳 賲毓乇賮丞 賲賳 兀毓丕丿 丿賵乇賵賳鬲賷賳
乇賵丕賷丞 賱胤賷賮丞 賲賰鬲賵亘丞 亘兀爻賱賵亘 亘爻賷胤 賵賲卮賵賯
July 20, 2020
鬲爻兀賱賴丕 兀賲賴丕 : " 賲賳 兀毓丕丿賰 賷丕 丿賵乇賵賳鬲賷賳責 "
鬲乇丿 丕賱兀亘賳丞 賯丕卅賱丞 : " 廿賳賴購 兀禺賷 賯爻胤賳胤賷賳 !! "
- 賯爻胤賳胤賷賳責! 賵賱賰賳賴 賲丕鬲 賲賳匕 孬賱丕孬 爻賳賵丕鬲 賲毓 噩賲賷毓 廿禺賵鬲賴....
賴賰匕丕 囟噩鬲 丕賱亘賱丿丞 亘丕賱卮丕卅毓丕鬲 賵丕賱兀賯丕賵賷賱 賵氐丕乇鬲 毓賵丿丞 丿賵乇賵賳鬲賷賳 噩夭亍丕賸 賱丕 賷鬲噩夭兀 賲賳 丨丿賷孬 兀賴丕賱賷 丕賱亘賱丿丞 丕賱胤賷亘賷賳貙 毓丕丿鬲 丿賵乇賵賳鬲賷賳 賵噩賱亘鬲 賲毓賴丕 兀賰亘乇 賱睾夭 賲賳 賷賲賰賳 兀賳 鬲鬲丨賱賲賴 鬲賱賰 丕賱亘賱丿丞貙 亘賱 賵丕賱兀賲丕乇丞 賰賱賴丕.. 毓丕丿鬲 賱鬲噩賱亘 丕賱卮賯丕亍 賵丕賱丨賷乇丞 賵丕賱賴匕賷丕賳 賱兀賲賴丕貙 賲毓 廿乇孬 兀禺賷賴丕 丕賱賲鬲賵賮賶 賲賳匕 孬賱丕孬 爻賳賵丕鬲 丕賱匕賷 鬲賵賮賷 賲毓 噩賲賷毓 廿禺賵丕賳賴 貙 丿賵乇賵賳鬲賷賳 丕賱鬲賷 鬲丿毓賷 兀賳賴丕 爻丕賮乇鬲 賲毓 兀禺賷賴丕 賱毓丿丞 賱賷丕賱賷貙 亘毓丿 丕賱毓賴丿 賵丕賱賯爻賲 丕賱匕賷 兀賯乇賴 賯爻胤賳胤賷賳 賮賷 丨賷丕鬲賴 亘兀賳 賷毓賷丿 兀禺鬲賴 廿賱賶 丕賱亘賱丿丞 賰賱賲丕 兀卮鬲丕賯鬲 賱兀賲賴丕貙 賵賴丕 賴賷 鬲賯賮 賱鬲賵丕噩賴 兀賲賴丕 賵兀賴丕賱賷 丕賱亘賱丿丞 亘兀賳 兀禺丕賴丕 賯丿 賯丕賲 賲賳 丕賱兀賲賵丕鬲 賵兀亘鬲毓孬 賲賳 噩丿賷丿 賲賳 兀噩賱 鬲賱賰 丕賱賭 " 廿賱爻丕 " 兀賵 丕賱毓賴丿 賵丕賱賯爻賲 丕賱匕賷 賵囟毓賴 毓賱賶 賳賮爻賴 賯亘賱 賲賲丕鬲賴 亘廿毓丕丿丞 兀禺鬲賴 賱賱賵胤賳 .. 卮丕卅毓丕鬲 賱丕 鬲鬲賵賯賮 賵卮賴丕丿丕鬲 賲賳 兀賴賱 丕賱亘賱丿丞 賵賯亘乇 賯爻胤賳胤賷賳 丕賱賲賳亘賵卮 賰賱 匕賱賰 賵囟毓 卮禺氐丕賸 賲孬賱 " 爻鬲乇賷爻 " 賮賷 丨丕賱丞 賱丕 賷購丨爻丿 毓賱賷賴丕 賮賷 乇丨賱丞 亘丨孬賴 毓賳 丕賱丨賯賷賯丞 丕賱睾丕卅亘丞 賵乇丕亍 毓賵丿丞 丿賵乇賵賳鬲賷賳 賵賯氐丞 兀禺賷賴丕 丕賱賯丕卅賲 賲賳 亘賷賳 丕賱兀賲賵丕鬲...
丨賰丕賷丞 賲卮賵賯丞 匕丕鬲 胤丕亘毓 兀爻胤賵乇賷 鬲鬲賵賱丿 兀噩賵丕亍 兀賵乇賵亘丕 丕賱賯乇賵賳 丕賱賵爻胤賶 賲卮亘毓丞 亘丕賱禺乇丕賮丕鬲 賵丕賱鬲賯丕賱賷丿 丕賱賲丨賱賷丞 賵賲爻鬲賱賴丞 丕賱兀賷賯賵賳丕鬲 丕賱賲爻賷丨賷丞 賮賷 氐賳毓 丨賰丕賷丞 賲賲鬲夭噩丞 亘賷賳 丕賱賵丕賯毓 賵丕賱禺賷丕賱 賵賮丕卅囟丞 亘丕賱睾賲賵囟 賵丕賱丿賴卮丞.. 賯氐丞 乇丕卅毓丞 賷丨賰賷賴丕 賱賳丕 賰丕丿丕乇賷賴 亘賱睾丞 爻賴賱丞 賵兀爻賱賵亘 卮賷賯 賵馗乇賷賮 賵乇爻賲 賱賲睾丕賲乇丞 丿賮賷賳丞 鬲噩亘乇 丕賱賯丕乇卅 毓賱賶 丕賱鬲毓賱賯 亘賰賱 鬲賮丕氐賷賱賴丕 丨鬲賶 丕賱賳賴丕賷丞.. 毓賲賱 兀丿亘賷 乇丕卅毓 賷爻鬲丨賯 丕賱賯乇丕亍丞....
February 15, 2021
3/3.5 stars. is a retelling of the dark Kostandin and Doruntine ballad, an ancient Albanian tale : in this legend, Doruntine's brother, Kostandin, raises from the dead in order to bring her back to her mother, as his oath - his besa - demanded him. Due to the animated state it creates in the little town - and the fact that neither Doruntine nor her mother are responding anymore, Captain Stresi is asked to investigate the case.
Pleased Anna - was undoubtedly enthralling, drawing me in its haunting and out of the world mystery from page one.
Skeptical Anna - The repetitions, though. What's up with them? Is it some kind of translation fail... or something?
Pleased Anna - It's your fault, though.
Skeptical Anna - My fault? Oh, right. Listen up, friends : when English is not your first language and you're reading a translated novel, be sure to check how the translation business took place. Indeed I realized that wasn't directly translated from Albanian to English, but that the English version was merely a translation from the... French version, as most of 's works. Indeed his long-standing collaborator, Jusuf Vrioni, translated most of his work into French, the English translators merely translating the French versions. Does nobody speak Albanian in the US? That's some lazy work, in my opinion. Anyway - I'll be sure to read the French versions next time, because it shows - I felt as if the translator lacked the ability to expend the vocabulary used, making it way too easy for repetitions to overflow.
Pleased Anna - Enough of these complaints, I was compelled all the same! All of these repetitions didn't diminish my enjoyment, and never broke the spell the dark atmosphere put on me. From the start I wanted to know : as many characters through the novel, I've repeatedly asked myself who brought Doruntine back from Bohemia : was it really her dead brother, raising from the dead to respect his besa? Was it some impostor whose intentions were unclear? Was it a straight-on hoax? Until the end I couldn't say.
Skeptical Anna - But you must admit that the plot was sometimes all over the place -
Pleased Anna - I knooooow! I should have been annoyed by the way the story changed its course all the time but actually, I really liked that? repeatedly surprised me, lost me, confused me with all the tiny clues the author put everywhere.... and abandoned quickly.
Skeptical Anna - Hmm, "abandoned", that's right. Can't it be lazy writing? Some of the clues were never explained nor taken into account in the end, and I kinda want to call bullshit on them? Like, really? You're gonna make me believe something and then get out by side-stepping the question? I'm not sure I like that.
Pleased Anna - Alright, fair enough. Perhaps the reason is simpler than that, though : indeed uses Albanian traditions I knew nothing about, as the kanun (oral traditional laws) and the besa (a person's most sacred oath), and I felt like I had not the knowledge baggage necessary to analyze and understand everything. I saw reviews urging readers to start with in which the author explains what kanun is, and I wish I'd followed that advice. Don't get me wrong, it doesn't mean that I wasn't able to enjoy , because I did, but I felt what I often feel with classics written about societies I do not know : I couldn't take the most out of my read. Yet what I did gathered is that we can't analyze his 1970s works without taking into account the paranoid Stalinist regime in which lived at the time. As stated in the Introduction, the current edition contains historical and political references that weren't there at first, because dangerous under the Hoxha regime.
Skeptical Anna - The MC! Talk about the MC!
Pleased Anna - Hmm, yes, captain Stresi, yes. What can I say, hmm, he was very driven and
Skeptical Anna - a jerk
Pleased Anna - Hmm yes you could say that, yes. Willing to keep his feet firmly on the ground, he let nothing going in his way and
Skeptical Anna - he tortured people
Pleased Anna - Yes, about that. I did feel uncomfortable with his interrogation techniques - especially because they came from nowhere - and I can't say Captain Stresi made any effort to be likeable,
Skeptical Anna - because he was a bully
Pleased Anna - Sometimes, yes he was. Yet it never read as if I was supposed to care for him whatsoever : what mattered was the mystery, but I would have wanted for his behavior to be called out and challenged.
Skeptical Anna - like when he called women sluts and a disabled boy an idiot
Pleased Anna - PRECISELY. That was so useless in my opinion, even for a novel written in 1979. Yet in my opinion Stres isn't the main character in this novel. Kostandin is, his ideas and resistance are. As often happens, may have a stronger political meaning that it first appears. This quote below made me shiver -
"What face should [the Albanian] show to the world? Shall he disfigure himself, changing his features to suit the masks of the age, seeking thus to assure his survival, or shall he keep his countenance inchanged ... (...) Albania aims to keep its eternal image. That's the main thing, to my mind. She will keep her face not by retreting from the world like a wild animal at bay, but by joining the world."
Skeptical Anna - So. Are we recommending this or not?
*running sounds*
Skeptical Anna - Alright. Do what you want.
PS. I rarely take editing into account, BUT I would strongly recommend you to read the paperback version and not the ebook which is AWFULLY edited.
*World map *
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December 18, 2020
Ghosts of the Tale
I have always had a fascination for stories built on myths, legends or folkloric tales, for they tend to give another dimension to the nations subconscious that I鈥檝e always believed populated by the latter. And I find it extremely interesting to see how these stories feed at the same time on the old and new, on the local and universal, on the real and the imaginary, how they can gain and lose specific meanings in time without losing beauty and depth.
And here it is, Ismail Kadare鈥檚 novel, The Ghost Rider, a strange tale (known apparently by all Albanian people), based on an ancestral belief 鈥� besa 鈥� a sacred promise that must be fulfilled no matter what. The narrative, whose general lines the author respects, is simple enough 鈥� a brother rises from his grave to keep the promise he made to his mother when he was alive and bring his sister back from a faraway land where she had gone to live with her husband. Simple is also, apparently, its message 鈥� the power of a word of honour that exceeds even death. Obviously there are other messages too, about love and grief, family and solitude, estrangement and renunciation...
Kadare's mastery in manipulating the tale lies in the fact that he keeps all these messages and adds others, incorporating both politic and aesthetic concepts within myth, without transforming it in a mere allegory. Therefore, the novel can be read in many ways, and each reading key is as true and as insightful as the others.
First, there is a fascination for the story per se, that desire to fill in the blanks, to hunt for details, like the true nature of the relationship between brother and sister, between life and death, between sacred and profane. So, even though this first reading is the most literal, it is not less beautiful: it is the completion of the story, a rewriting that adds missing data, skilfully restoring the slate tablets with information about journey, characters, reactions and so on:
In a trembling voice, one of the mourners sang of Doruntine鈥檚 marriage and of her departure for a distant land. A second, her voice more tremulous still, lamented the nine boys who, so soon after the wedding, had fallen in battle against the plague-ridden army. The third took up the theme and sang of the grief of the mother left alone.
Like in a detective story, the whys and hows are one by one answered, even though the answers are never definitive, since there is always some fact or person that contradicts one information or another. Nevertheless, the characters gain depth and personality, and a life of their own that the scheme of the original myth couldn鈥檛 provide.
Then there is a second reading, which removes the story from illo tempore to anchor it in a specific time: the present of the author. Thus it becomes the story of a sombre period, an allegory of the communist oppression. In this key of reading, what is the Church but the Comunist Party, and what is Kostandin but the national hero whom not even death can prevent to bring back freedom 鈥� Doruntine? And even though she dies away, her story is enough to keep up hope, encouraging people to remember it, to respect it, if only by mourning it. So, even this apparently more prosaic reading reveals more than a political event, rising over transience to point out the right to fight against tyranny that kills the spirit. Moreover, it helps to draw the portrait of a quiet people that kept its beliefs and traditions even under duress, with a passive resistance that fooled for a while the Power. In this respect, Stres, the brave detective caught between the two worlds, emphasizes the importance of hanging on the true image of oneself, the more it seems dangerous, the more it seems improbable:
鈥淭he question is this: in these new conditions of the worsening of the general atmosphere in the world, in this time of crime and hateful treachery that could be called unbelief, who should the Albanian be? What face shall he show the world? Shall he espouse evil or stand against it? Shall he disfigure himself, changing his features to suit the masks of the age, seeking thus to assure his survival, or shall he keep his countenance unchanged鈥� I am a servant of the state and have little interest in the personal aspects of Kostandin鈥檚 journey, if in fact there are any. Each of us, commoners and lords alike, be we Caesar or Christ, is the shroud of unfathomable mysteries. But, functionary that I am, I have spoken of the general point, the one that concerns Albania. Albania鈥檚 time of trial is near, the hour of choice between these two faces. And if the people of Albania, deep within themselves, have begun to fashion institutions as sublime as the besa, that shows us that Albania is making the right choice. Albania aims to keep its eternal image.鈥�
Finally, a third reading (among many others, but I stop right here) returns the story to its true land, the imaginary. It is the story of literature, of the make-belief, the same story The Buried Giant tells, of how reality slips imperceptibly into myth. Like in Kazuo Ishiguro鈥檚 novel (I wrote about it here ), here again is presented that decantation of reality only literature can create:
鈥淎 legend is being born right before our eyes,鈥� Stres said, handing him the sheaf of reports with their underlined passages. 鈥淛ust look at this. Until two days ago, the songs gave little detail, but since last night, and especially today, they have taken shape as a well-defined fable.鈥�
This is the story that reveals the complexity of the main character, Stres, playing a triple part: he is the author who not only reinterprets the tale many times but rewrites it, retells it and invests it with new meanings; he is the main character converted from a mere unbeliever to a keeper of legends, who protects not only the people but the story itself from being destroyed; he is also the reader, who choses to take it in as he sees fit.
鈥淓ach of us has a part in that journey, for it is here among us that Kostandin鈥檚 besa germinated, and that is what brought Doruntine back. Therefore, to be more exact I would have to say that it was all of us 鈥� you, me, our dead lying there in the graveyard close by the church 鈥� who, through Kostandin, brought Doruntine back.鈥�
Overall, a great novel, written by an extremely interesting writer I (shame on me) knew nothing about until several months ago, when my friend Ema encouraged me to read him. I pass on this wonderful discovery and for whoever in need of more insightful reviews than mine about this book I would recommend at least two: one in Romanian, on , and one in English, on a Scottish writer's blog, .
June 7, 2013
The Ghost Rider was initially published in English under the title Doruntine and it is another case of translation from French, not from the original Albanian. This situation puzzles me and has turned many people off from reading Ismail Kadar茅's , which I find a really good novel (but then, I've read the Romanian translation). Is there a serious deficit of translators from Albanian into English? It seems that Kadare鈥檚 works were regularly translated into French by his long-standing collaborator, Jusuf Vrioni, and the English editions have the latter's translations as a starting point. Weird.
Anyway, this edition of The Ghost Rider benefited from revisions made by Kadar茅 himself, so let's hope it is very close to the original work. I find Kadar茅's voice to be quite appealing, bringing an interesting insight into a world that I know very little of. Let's be frank, how many of us know where Albania is located and what it looks like?
At first, the novel seems to be a sort of Gothic detective novel, but as the action unfolds, we understand that the implications run deeper, weaving myth and reality in a gripping tale that also speaks of the Albanian people and their heritage. Kadar茅 took as a starting point a well-known Albanian ballad, Kostandin and Doruntine, and recreated the story from the beginning, endowed it with a religious and historical background, enlarging its dimension.
At some unspecified time and place in Medieval Albania, Captain Stresi hears of the mysterious return of Doruntine, the only daughter of the noble Vranaj family; now she and her mother lay on their deathbeds, having experienced a terrible shock. Doruntine had married three years ago with a man from a distant land, but her brother Kostandin had promised to bring her home whenever their mother missed her. Only that soon after the wedding, Kostandin died along with his other eight brothers, and his sister presumably hadn't found out about the tragedy. Doruntine was back now in her mother's house, claiming that it was Kostandin who had brought her home on horseback.
Captain Stresi begins an investigation to find out the truth about the mysterious rider, while the rumor of Kostandin's resurrection spreads among people, reaching beyond the Albanian borders. They believe the brother has raised from the dead to keep his promise, his besa. We bare witness to the birth of the legend: beside the coffins, the mourners utter verses which recount the events. The ballad gradually takes shape from their mouths, each mourner adding a part of the story, elaborating the poem, which grows and spreads and can no longer be stopped.
The rumored resurrection of Kostandin brings a religious dimension to the story, as it shakes the foundations of the Orthodox Church. The supernatural happening upsets the Byzantine officials, as only Jesus Christ was capable of coming back from the grave, and any other tale of this kind is considered a heresy.
Religion had an important role in those times - Albania was torn between Catholicism and Orthodoxy, each trying to impose its influence. The Church of Rome was believed to exploit the heresy, helping it spread, using it against the Holy Byzantine Church, which at that time prevailed in Albania.
As the story unfolds, we come to know some interesting aspects of the Albanian heritage: the Kanun, for example, was a set of traditional Albanian laws (mainly oral) that often transcended the institutionalized law. Kostandin was a fervent supporter of Kanun and of its subsidiary besa - a person's most sacred oath, a promise that can never be broken, even beyond death. Used from early times, the Kanun was first codified in the 15th century and was used until the 20th century, banned under the communist regime and then revived after its fall in the early 1990s.
There is an interesting discussion on Kanun, which consists of some immaterial and invisible rules that brig forth a new order, replacing the existing institutions. The new rules would be far from idyllic, but they would lie within man, not in the form of remorse or some similar sentiment, but as a well-defined ideal, a faith, an order understood and accepted by everyone. In this new world, the besa would have a central role.
I also found interesting the clash of opinions over local versus far-off marriage. Doruntine's wedding was the first of its kind, as no woman had married before with a man from so distant a country. The supporters of local marriages believed that this kept the clan free from turmoil and especially from suspect foreign blood, while the opponents feared the results of inbreeding and invoked the ancient kanun, the customary law that prohibited marriage within the four-hundredth degree of relatedness.
Captain Stresi has kept himself impartial to religion and tradition, but at the end of the investigation he will get to a new understanding of things, coming to terms with the Albanian traditions.
The English translation of the Kostandin and Doruntine ballad (which is sung even today at Albanian weddings) can be read , although I am positive that it sounds different in Albanian (which brings me to the question, how does Albanian sound like? Just to make an idea, here is based on Kadar茅's novel).
Anyway, this edition of The Ghost Rider benefited from revisions made by Kadar茅 himself, so let's hope it is very close to the original work. I find Kadar茅's voice to be quite appealing, bringing an interesting insight into a world that I know very little of. Let's be frank, how many of us know where Albania is located and what it looks like?
At first, the novel seems to be a sort of Gothic detective novel, but as the action unfolds, we understand that the implications run deeper, weaving myth and reality in a gripping tale that also speaks of the Albanian people and their heritage. Kadar茅 took as a starting point a well-known Albanian ballad, Kostandin and Doruntine, and recreated the story from the beginning, endowed it with a religious and historical background, enlarging its dimension.
At some unspecified time and place in Medieval Albania, Captain Stresi hears of the mysterious return of Doruntine, the only daughter of the noble Vranaj family; now she and her mother lay on their deathbeds, having experienced a terrible shock. Doruntine had married three years ago with a man from a distant land, but her brother Kostandin had promised to bring her home whenever their mother missed her. Only that soon after the wedding, Kostandin died along with his other eight brothers, and his sister presumably hadn't found out about the tragedy. Doruntine was back now in her mother's house, claiming that it was Kostandin who had brought her home on horseback.
Captain Stresi begins an investigation to find out the truth about the mysterious rider, while the rumor of Kostandin's resurrection spreads among people, reaching beyond the Albanian borders. They believe the brother has raised from the dead to keep his promise, his besa. We bare witness to the birth of the legend: beside the coffins, the mourners utter verses which recount the events. The ballad gradually takes shape from their mouths, each mourner adding a part of the story, elaborating the poem, which grows and spreads and can no longer be stopped.
Every day brought new chapters to the story of Doruntine, or else erased parts of it. Only the mourners remained steadfast in their ritual.
A curse be on thee, Kostandin!
Do you recall the solemn promise you made?
Or has your besa rotted with you in the grave?
The rumored resurrection of Kostandin brings a religious dimension to the story, as it shakes the foundations of the Orthodox Church. The supernatural happening upsets the Byzantine officials, as only Jesus Christ was capable of coming back from the grave, and any other tale of this kind is considered a heresy.
Religion had an important role in those times - Albania was torn between Catholicism and Orthodoxy, each trying to impose its influence. The Church of Rome was believed to exploit the heresy, helping it spread, using it against the Holy Byzantine Church, which at that time prevailed in Albania.
The struggle between Catholicism and Orthodoxy since time immemorial had greatly weakened religion in the Albanian principalities. The region lay just on the border between the two religions and, for various reasons, essentially political and economic, the principalities leaned now towards one, now towards the other. Half of them were now Catholic, but that state of affairs was by no means permanent, and each of the two churches hoped to win spheres of influence from the other.
As the story unfolds, we come to know some interesting aspects of the Albanian heritage: the Kanun, for example, was a set of traditional Albanian laws (mainly oral) that often transcended the institutionalized law. Kostandin was a fervent supporter of Kanun and of its subsidiary besa - a person's most sacred oath, a promise that can never be broken, even beyond death. Used from early times, the Kanun was first codified in the 15th century and was used until the 20th century, banned under the communist regime and then revived after its fall in the early 1990s.
There is an interesting discussion on Kanun, which consists of some immaterial and invisible rules that brig forth a new order, replacing the existing institutions. The new rules would be far from idyllic, but they would lie within man, not in the form of remorse or some similar sentiment, but as a well-defined ideal, a faith, an order understood and accepted by everyone. In this new world, the besa would have a central role.
I also found interesting the clash of opinions over local versus far-off marriage. Doruntine's wedding was the first of its kind, as no woman had married before with a man from so distant a country. The supporters of local marriages believed that this kept the clan free from turmoil and especially from suspect foreign blood, while the opponents feared the results of inbreeding and invoked the ancient kanun, the customary law that prohibited marriage within the four-hundredth degree of relatedness.
Captain Stresi has kept himself impartial to religion and tradition, but at the end of the investigation he will get to a new understanding of things, coming to terms with the Albanian traditions.
The English translation of the Kostandin and Doruntine ballad (which is sung even today at Albanian weddings) can be read , although I am positive that it sounds different in Albanian (which brings me to the question, how does Albanian sound like? Just to make an idea, here is based on Kadar茅's novel).
April 13, 2014
This superb short novel by Ismail Kadare was written in 1979 in Tirana, Albania. At that time, the country was ruled by its oppressive dictator Enver Hoxha. Like most of his ilk, he had no tolerance for dissent. Kadare and his fellow writers had to mind what they said and wrote to keep out of trouble. By setting his novel "Doruntine", which is to some extent about heresy, in the era before the Ottoman invasion of Albania, he was able to disguise his observations of modern Albania to such an extent that the state censors were at little risk of being disturbed by its content.
Stres, the regional captain, learns that Doruntine has returned to the district where her mother lives. Several years before, she married a man from far off Bohemia and lived in that distant country. He is perturbed to learn that Doruntine, who is in a disturbed psychological state, says that she has been brought home by her brother Constantine. Stres and everyone else in the district knows that Constantine and all of his 8 brothers have been dead for 3 years. Unless Constantine had undergone a resurrection like Jesus Christ, it seemed impossible that he could have escorted Doruntine from Bohemia to Albania.
The local archbishop, learning of this strange story, summons Stres to a meeting. During this, he makes it clear to Stres that the person who actually brought Doruntine home must be found. This is because it is important to prove to the people that Constantine did not rise up from the grave. It is important to prove that this was not the case because it was heresy to believe that anyone apart from Jesus Christ was capable of coming back to life after death. Stres is faced with having to execute a thorough investigation.
To describe what happens next would spoil the story. Needless to say the resolution of this tale is indeed extraordinary and exciting.
This novel, like many of his others, demonstrates Kadare's ability to write succinctly, to express a great deal in a few words. "Doruntine" is along with "Broken April" and "Chronicle in Stone" one of his best pieces of writing. Even in translation, his voice comes through clearly and beautifully.
"Doruntine" demonstrates well the importance of making sure that the truth of a matter is in accord with what the authorities want. And, the ability to ensure this was one of the keys to surviving in Enver Hoxha's Albania. Kadare was taking a great risk when he wrote this book, but got away with it.
Review by author of "Albania on my Mind"
Stres, the regional captain, learns that Doruntine has returned to the district where her mother lives. Several years before, she married a man from far off Bohemia and lived in that distant country. He is perturbed to learn that Doruntine, who is in a disturbed psychological state, says that she has been brought home by her brother Constantine. Stres and everyone else in the district knows that Constantine and all of his 8 brothers have been dead for 3 years. Unless Constantine had undergone a resurrection like Jesus Christ, it seemed impossible that he could have escorted Doruntine from Bohemia to Albania.
The local archbishop, learning of this strange story, summons Stres to a meeting. During this, he makes it clear to Stres that the person who actually brought Doruntine home must be found. This is because it is important to prove to the people that Constantine did not rise up from the grave. It is important to prove that this was not the case because it was heresy to believe that anyone apart from Jesus Christ was capable of coming back to life after death. Stres is faced with having to execute a thorough investigation.
To describe what happens next would spoil the story. Needless to say the resolution of this tale is indeed extraordinary and exciting.
This novel, like many of his others, demonstrates Kadare's ability to write succinctly, to express a great deal in a few words. "Doruntine" is along with "Broken April" and "Chronicle in Stone" one of his best pieces of writing. Even in translation, his voice comes through clearly and beautifully.
"Doruntine" demonstrates well the importance of making sure that the truth of a matter is in accord with what the authorities want. And, the ability to ensure this was one of the keys to surviving in Enver Hoxha's Albania. Kadare was taking a great risk when he wrote this book, but got away with it.
Review by author of "Albania on my Mind"
March 2, 2021
Are myth, illusion, and dream greater than the State ?
Doruntine, who married in far off Bohemia, suddenly appears at her mother's deathbed. She says she was brought by her brother. Only thing is, he's been dead for 3 years. This is a challenge to the Church, all powerful in that era, which seems to be Norman-ruled Albania of the middle age, where Catholic and Orthodox doctrines competed. So far, only Jesus Christ had risen from his grave. A 'policeman' Stres, is assigned to make sense of the incident. While this novel may have resonated in Communist Albania of the 1980s, with its intricate "Dance of the Doctrines" and underlying family and clan rule, I felt that, just as a novel, it left something to be desired. Perhaps that was because Kadare had to go out on a limb to write any kind of possible comparison with the modern Albanian situation and the result did feel rather tortuously arrived at.
Some scenes are excellently depicted, but compared to most of Kadare's work, this novel is weak perhaps because it is a one-theme novel based on an old Balkan myth. Even if you say that this novel illustrates Albanian seriousness about promises (besa), it just isn't as multi-layered as most of his other work, even if it is politically daring. If you would like to know the story in more detail, please check the review by B. Asma, which is excellent. If you are looking for good novels, Kadare is one of the best writers alive today, but this isn't his best. Read some of the others, and see what I'm talking about.
Doruntine, who married in far off Bohemia, suddenly appears at her mother's deathbed. She says she was brought by her brother. Only thing is, he's been dead for 3 years. This is a challenge to the Church, all powerful in that era, which seems to be Norman-ruled Albania of the middle age, where Catholic and Orthodox doctrines competed. So far, only Jesus Christ had risen from his grave. A 'policeman' Stres, is assigned to make sense of the incident. While this novel may have resonated in Communist Albania of the 1980s, with its intricate "Dance of the Doctrines" and underlying family and clan rule, I felt that, just as a novel, it left something to be desired. Perhaps that was because Kadare had to go out on a limb to write any kind of possible comparison with the modern Albanian situation and the result did feel rather tortuously arrived at.
Some scenes are excellently depicted, but compared to most of Kadare's work, this novel is weak perhaps because it is a one-theme novel based on an old Balkan myth. Even if you say that this novel illustrates Albanian seriousness about promises (besa), it just isn't as multi-layered as most of his other work, even if it is politically daring. If you would like to know the story in more detail, please check the review by B. Asma, which is excellent. If you are looking for good novels, Kadare is one of the best writers alive today, but this isn't his best. Read some of the others, and see what I'm talking about.
January 20, 2017
鬲賳亘賷賴: 賮賷 丕賱爻胤賵乇 丕賱鬲丕賱賷丞 賰卮賮 賱兀丨丿丕孬 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞.
賲賳 兀毓丕丿 丿賵乇賳鬲賷賳責
賴匕賴 賴賷 賯乇丕亍鬲賷 丕賱兀賵賱賶 賱毓賲賱 賲賳 兀毓賲丕賱 丕賱乇賵丕卅賷 丕賱兀賱亘丕賳賷 丕賱賲乇卮丨 賱賳賵亘賱 丕賱丌丿丕亘 賲賳匕 爻賳賵丕鬲 (廿爻賲丕毓賷賱 賰丕丿丕乇賷賴) 鈥� 兀賵 賯丕丿乇賷賴 賵賴賵 兀氐賱 丕賱丕爻賲 廿賳 兀氐丕亘鬲 馗賳賵賳賷 -.
賷賯丕賱 亘兀賳 丕賱兀爻丕胤賷乇貙 賴賷 孬賷賲丞 賰丕丿丕乇賷賴 丕賱丿丕卅賲丞 鈥� 賵兀賳丕 賴賳丕 賱丕 兀賲賱賰 廿賱丕 兀賳 兀毓鬲賲丿 毓賱賶 丕賱兀賯賵丕賱貙 賲丕 丿丕賲鬲 乇賵丕賷丕鬲賴 丕賱兀禺乇賶 鬲賳鬲馗乇 賮賷 賲賰鬲亘鬲賷 賵賱賲 兀卮乇毓 賮賷 賯乇丕亍鬲賴丕 亘毓丿 -貙 賴匕賴 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 賱丕 鬲亘丿兀 賰丕賱毓丕丿丞 亘兀爻胤賵乇丞 賷鬲賲 丕賱丕鬲賰丕亍 毓賱賷賴丕貙 賵廿賳賲丕 鬲賯賵賲 亘賮毓賱 賲毓丕賰爻貙 兀賷 廿賳鬲丕噩 兀爻胤賵乇丞貙 賲賳 兀毓丕丿 丿賵乇賵賳鬲賷賳責
賴匕丕 賴賵 丕賱爻丐丕賱 丕賱兀賱亘丕賳賷 丕賱賯賱賯貙 丕賱匕賷 兀賯賱賯 鬲賱賰 丕賱廿賲丕乇丞 丕賱兀賱亘丕賳賷丞 丕賱氐睾賷乇丞貙 丕賱鬲賷 鬲毓賷卮 賮賷 賲賳胤賯丞 氐乇丕毓 賲丕 亘賷賳 丕賱賰賳賷爻鬲賷賳 丕賱卮乇賯賷丞 丕賱兀乇孬賵匕賰爻賷丞貙 賵丕賱乇賵賲丕賳賷丞 丕賱賰丕孬賵賱賷賰賷丞 鈥� 賵賴匕丕 賷噩毓賱 兀丨丿丕孬 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 鬲丿賵乇 賮賷 丕賱賯乇賵賳 丕賱賵爻胤賶貙 賯亘賱 丕爻鬲賷賱丕亍 丕賱兀鬲乇丕賰 毓賱賶 丕賱賯爻胤賳胤賷賳賷丞 -.
丿賵乇賵賳鬲賷賳 賮乇丕賳丕噩貙 丕賱丕亘賳丞 丕賱賵丨賷丿丞 賱毓丕卅賱丞 賮乇丕賳丕噩貙 賵丕賱鬲賷 鬲夭賵噩鬲 賲賳匕 孬賱丕孬 爻賳賵丕鬲貙 賮賷 夭賵丕噩 亘毓賷丿貙 賳賯賱賴丕 廿賱賶 夭賵噩 賮賷 丕賱賳氐賮 丕賱丌禺乇 賲賳 丕賱賯丕乇丞 鈥� 賮賷賲丕 氐丕乇 賷毓乇賮 丨丕賱賷丕 賸 亘兀賱賲丕賳賷丕 -貙 賵兀孬丕乇 丕賱賰孬賷乇 賲賳 丕賱賳賯丕卮 丕賱丕噩鬲賲丕毓賷貙 丨賵賱 丕賱夭賵丕噩 丕賱賯乇賷亘 賵丕賱亘毓賷丿貙 毓丕丿鬲 鬲賱賰 丕賱賱賷賱丞 廿賱賶 丕賱亘賱丿貙 毓丕丿 亘賴丕 兀禺賵賴丕 賯爻胤賳胤賷賳 賰賲丕 乇賵鬲 賱兀賲賴丕貙 賯亘賱 兀賳 鬲爻賯胤 丕賱丕孬賳鬲丕賳 賮乇賷爻鬲賷賳 賱丕丨鬲囟丕乇 賯氐賷乇貙 丕賱賲卮賰賱丞 丕賱賵丨賷丿丞 賴賷 兀賳 兀禺賵丞 丿賵乇賵賳鬲賷賳 丕賱鬲爻毓丞 賯丿 爻賯胤賵丕 賮乇賷爻丞 賲賵鬲 爻乇賷毓貙 亘毓丿 乇丨賷賱 丿賵乇賵賳鬲賷賳貙 賵賱賲 賷亘賯賶 賲賳 丕賱毓丕卅賱丞 廿賱丕 丕賱兀賲 丕賱毓噩賵夭貙 賮賲賳 兀毓丕丿 丿賵乇賵賳鬲賷賳責
賷亘丿兀 丕賱賲丨賯賯 爻鬲乇賷爻 賮賷 賲丨丕賵賱丕鬲賴 賱丕賰鬲卮丕賮 爻乇 賴匕賴 丕賱毓賵丿丞 丕賱睾乇賷亘丞貙 賵鬲亘丿兀 兀賷囟丕 賸 卮丕卅毓丞 賲賯賱賯丞貙 賱賴 賰乇噩賱 毓賯賱丕賳賷 賱丕 賷丐賲賳 亘丕賱禺乇丕賮丕鬲貙 賵賱賱賰賳賷爻丞 丕賱乇賵賲丕賳賷丞 丕賱卮乇賯賷丞 賰丿賷賳 賷毓鬲賯丿 亘賲毓噩夭丞 賯賷丕賲丞 丕賱賲爻賷丨 賲賳 亘賷賳 丕賱兀賲賵丕鬲貙 鬲賯賵賱 賴匕賴 丕賱卮丕卅毓丞 兀賳 賯爻胤賳胤賷賳 丕賱匕賷 賰丕賳 賯丿 賵毓丿 賵丕賱丿鬲賴 亘廿毓丕丿丞 兀禺鬲賴 賰賱賲丕 丕卮鬲丕賯鬲 丕賱兀賲 廿賱賶 乇丐賷鬲賴丕貙 賵賲賳丨賴丕 賮賷 爻亘賷賱 匕賱賰 (丕賱亘爻丕) 禺丕氐鬲賴貙 兀賷 賵毓丿 丕賱卮乇賮 毓賳丿 丕賱乇噩丕賱 丕賱兀賱亘丕賳貙 丕賱匕賷 賱丕 賷賲賰賳 丕賱廿禺賱丕賱 亘賴 賵賱丕 丕賱鬲乇丕噩毓 毓賳賴貙 賴賵 賲賳 兀毓丕丿 丿賵乇賵賳鬲賷賳貙 賯丕卅賲丕 賸 賲賳 亘賷賳 丕賱兀賲賵丕鬲.
賰丕賳鬲 丕賱兀爻胤賵乇丞 賯丿 亘丿兀鬲 賮賷 丕賱鬲賰賵賳 毓賱賶 兀賱爻賳丞 丕賱賳丕丿亘丕鬲貙 兀爻胤賵乇丞 丕賱乇噩賱 丕賱匕賷 丨丕賮馗 毓賱賶 卮乇賮 賰賱賲鬲賴 賵賵毓丿賴貙 丨鬲賶 亘毓丿 賲賵鬲賴貙 丕賱乇噩賱 丕賱匕賷 賷鬲賰卮賮 賱賳丕 賲賳 禺賱丕賱 亘丨孬 丕賱賲丨賯賯 爻鬲乇賷爻 丕賱賲丿賯賯 賵丕賱賲賰孬賮貙 乇噩賱丕 賸 睾乇賷亘丕 賸貙 賷乇賮囟 賰賱 丕賱賲丐爻爻丕鬲 丕賱丨賰賵賲賷丞貙 賵賷毓鬲賲丿 毓賱賶 (丕賱亘爻丕) 賰賯丕賳賵賳 卮乇賮 睾賷乇 賲賰鬲賵亘貙 賵賱賰賳 賲賱夭賲 賱賰賱 乇噩賱 賮賷 丕賱亘賱丿丞.
賲賳 兀毓丕丿 丿乇賵乇賳鬲賷賳責 賱丕 賷賵噩丿 廿噩丕亘丞 賳賴丕卅賷丞 賱賴匕丕 丕賱爻丐丕賱貙 賮賷 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 毓丿丿 賲賲賰賳 賲賳 丕賱廿噩丕亘丕鬲貙 賷賲賰賳 賱兀賷 賯丕乇卅 丕賯鬲賳丕氐 兀賵 賮賴賲 廿噩丕亘鬲賴 丕賱禺丕氐丞貙 賵賲賳 賴賳丕 鬲鬲丨賵賱 毓賵丿丞 丿賵乇賵賳鬲賷賳 廿賱賶 兀爻胤賵乇丞 匕丕鬲 賵噩賵賴 賵乇賲賵夭 賲鬲毓丿丿丞貙 亘賱 廿賳賳丕 賳噩丿 賮賷 丕賱賳賴丕賷丞 匕賱賰 丕賱賲賷賱 廿賱賶 兀爻胤乇丞 丕賱丨丿孬 賱丿賶 丕賱賲丨賯賯 爻鬲乇賷爻 賳賮爻賴 丕賱乇丕賮囟 賱賱禺乇丕賮丕鬲 賵丕賱兀賮賰丕乇 丕賱兀爻胤賵乇賷丞.
賲賳 兀毓丕丿 丿賵乇賳鬲賷賳責
賴匕賴 賴賷 賯乇丕亍鬲賷 丕賱兀賵賱賶 賱毓賲賱 賲賳 兀毓賲丕賱 丕賱乇賵丕卅賷 丕賱兀賱亘丕賳賷 丕賱賲乇卮丨 賱賳賵亘賱 丕賱丌丿丕亘 賲賳匕 爻賳賵丕鬲 (廿爻賲丕毓賷賱 賰丕丿丕乇賷賴) 鈥� 兀賵 賯丕丿乇賷賴 賵賴賵 兀氐賱 丕賱丕爻賲 廿賳 兀氐丕亘鬲 馗賳賵賳賷 -.
賷賯丕賱 亘兀賳 丕賱兀爻丕胤賷乇貙 賴賷 孬賷賲丞 賰丕丿丕乇賷賴 丕賱丿丕卅賲丞 鈥� 賵兀賳丕 賴賳丕 賱丕 兀賲賱賰 廿賱丕 兀賳 兀毓鬲賲丿 毓賱賶 丕賱兀賯賵丕賱貙 賲丕 丿丕賲鬲 乇賵丕賷丕鬲賴 丕賱兀禺乇賶 鬲賳鬲馗乇 賮賷 賲賰鬲亘鬲賷 賵賱賲 兀卮乇毓 賮賷 賯乇丕亍鬲賴丕 亘毓丿 -貙 賴匕賴 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 賱丕 鬲亘丿兀 賰丕賱毓丕丿丞 亘兀爻胤賵乇丞 賷鬲賲 丕賱丕鬲賰丕亍 毓賱賷賴丕貙 賵廿賳賲丕 鬲賯賵賲 亘賮毓賱 賲毓丕賰爻貙 兀賷 廿賳鬲丕噩 兀爻胤賵乇丞貙 賲賳 兀毓丕丿 丿賵乇賵賳鬲賷賳責
賴匕丕 賴賵 丕賱爻丐丕賱 丕賱兀賱亘丕賳賷 丕賱賯賱賯貙 丕賱匕賷 兀賯賱賯 鬲賱賰 丕賱廿賲丕乇丞 丕賱兀賱亘丕賳賷丞 丕賱氐睾賷乇丞貙 丕賱鬲賷 鬲毓賷卮 賮賷 賲賳胤賯丞 氐乇丕毓 賲丕 亘賷賳 丕賱賰賳賷爻鬲賷賳 丕賱卮乇賯賷丞 丕賱兀乇孬賵匕賰爻賷丞貙 賵丕賱乇賵賲丕賳賷丞 丕賱賰丕孬賵賱賷賰賷丞 鈥� 賵賴匕丕 賷噩毓賱 兀丨丿丕孬 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 鬲丿賵乇 賮賷 丕賱賯乇賵賳 丕賱賵爻胤賶貙 賯亘賱 丕爻鬲賷賱丕亍 丕賱兀鬲乇丕賰 毓賱賶 丕賱賯爻胤賳胤賷賳賷丞 -.
丿賵乇賵賳鬲賷賳 賮乇丕賳丕噩貙 丕賱丕亘賳丞 丕賱賵丨賷丿丞 賱毓丕卅賱丞 賮乇丕賳丕噩貙 賵丕賱鬲賷 鬲夭賵噩鬲 賲賳匕 孬賱丕孬 爻賳賵丕鬲貙 賮賷 夭賵丕噩 亘毓賷丿貙 賳賯賱賴丕 廿賱賶 夭賵噩 賮賷 丕賱賳氐賮 丕賱丌禺乇 賲賳 丕賱賯丕乇丞 鈥� 賮賷賲丕 氐丕乇 賷毓乇賮 丨丕賱賷丕 賸 亘兀賱賲丕賳賷丕 -貙 賵兀孬丕乇 丕賱賰孬賷乇 賲賳 丕賱賳賯丕卮 丕賱丕噩鬲賲丕毓賷貙 丨賵賱 丕賱夭賵丕噩 丕賱賯乇賷亘 賵丕賱亘毓賷丿貙 毓丕丿鬲 鬲賱賰 丕賱賱賷賱丞 廿賱賶 丕賱亘賱丿貙 毓丕丿 亘賴丕 兀禺賵賴丕 賯爻胤賳胤賷賳 賰賲丕 乇賵鬲 賱兀賲賴丕貙 賯亘賱 兀賳 鬲爻賯胤 丕賱丕孬賳鬲丕賳 賮乇賷爻鬲賷賳 賱丕丨鬲囟丕乇 賯氐賷乇貙 丕賱賲卮賰賱丞 丕賱賵丨賷丿丞 賴賷 兀賳 兀禺賵丞 丿賵乇賵賳鬲賷賳 丕賱鬲爻毓丞 賯丿 爻賯胤賵丕 賮乇賷爻丞 賲賵鬲 爻乇賷毓貙 亘毓丿 乇丨賷賱 丿賵乇賵賳鬲賷賳貙 賵賱賲 賷亘賯賶 賲賳 丕賱毓丕卅賱丞 廿賱丕 丕賱兀賲 丕賱毓噩賵夭貙 賮賲賳 兀毓丕丿 丿賵乇賵賳鬲賷賳責
賷亘丿兀 丕賱賲丨賯賯 爻鬲乇賷爻 賮賷 賲丨丕賵賱丕鬲賴 賱丕賰鬲卮丕賮 爻乇 賴匕賴 丕賱毓賵丿丞 丕賱睾乇賷亘丞貙 賵鬲亘丿兀 兀賷囟丕 賸 卮丕卅毓丞 賲賯賱賯丞貙 賱賴 賰乇噩賱 毓賯賱丕賳賷 賱丕 賷丐賲賳 亘丕賱禺乇丕賮丕鬲貙 賵賱賱賰賳賷爻丞 丕賱乇賵賲丕賳賷丞 丕賱卮乇賯賷丞 賰丿賷賳 賷毓鬲賯丿 亘賲毓噩夭丞 賯賷丕賲丞 丕賱賲爻賷丨 賲賳 亘賷賳 丕賱兀賲賵丕鬲貙 鬲賯賵賱 賴匕賴 丕賱卮丕卅毓丞 兀賳 賯爻胤賳胤賷賳 丕賱匕賷 賰丕賳 賯丿 賵毓丿 賵丕賱丿鬲賴 亘廿毓丕丿丞 兀禺鬲賴 賰賱賲丕 丕卮鬲丕賯鬲 丕賱兀賲 廿賱賶 乇丐賷鬲賴丕貙 賵賲賳丨賴丕 賮賷 爻亘賷賱 匕賱賰 (丕賱亘爻丕) 禺丕氐鬲賴貙 兀賷 賵毓丿 丕賱卮乇賮 毓賳丿 丕賱乇噩丕賱 丕賱兀賱亘丕賳貙 丕賱匕賷 賱丕 賷賲賰賳 丕賱廿禺賱丕賱 亘賴 賵賱丕 丕賱鬲乇丕噩毓 毓賳賴貙 賴賵 賲賳 兀毓丕丿 丿賵乇賵賳鬲賷賳貙 賯丕卅賲丕 賸 賲賳 亘賷賳 丕賱兀賲賵丕鬲.
賰丕賳鬲 丕賱兀爻胤賵乇丞 賯丿 亘丿兀鬲 賮賷 丕賱鬲賰賵賳 毓賱賶 兀賱爻賳丞 丕賱賳丕丿亘丕鬲貙 兀爻胤賵乇丞 丕賱乇噩賱 丕賱匕賷 丨丕賮馗 毓賱賶 卮乇賮 賰賱賲鬲賴 賵賵毓丿賴貙 丨鬲賶 亘毓丿 賲賵鬲賴貙 丕賱乇噩賱 丕賱匕賷 賷鬲賰卮賮 賱賳丕 賲賳 禺賱丕賱 亘丨孬 丕賱賲丨賯賯 爻鬲乇賷爻 丕賱賲丿賯賯 賵丕賱賲賰孬賮貙 乇噩賱丕 賸 睾乇賷亘丕 賸貙 賷乇賮囟 賰賱 丕賱賲丐爻爻丕鬲 丕賱丨賰賵賲賷丞貙 賵賷毓鬲賲丿 毓賱賶 (丕賱亘爻丕) 賰賯丕賳賵賳 卮乇賮 睾賷乇 賲賰鬲賵亘貙 賵賱賰賳 賲賱夭賲 賱賰賱 乇噩賱 賮賷 丕賱亘賱丿丞.
賲賳 兀毓丕丿 丿乇賵乇賳鬲賷賳責 賱丕 賷賵噩丿 廿噩丕亘丞 賳賴丕卅賷丞 賱賴匕丕 丕賱爻丐丕賱貙 賮賷 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 毓丿丿 賲賲賰賳 賲賳 丕賱廿噩丕亘丕鬲貙 賷賲賰賳 賱兀賷 賯丕乇卅 丕賯鬲賳丕氐 兀賵 賮賴賲 廿噩丕亘鬲賴 丕賱禺丕氐丞貙 賵賲賳 賴賳丕 鬲鬲丨賵賱 毓賵丿丞 丿賵乇賵賳鬲賷賳 廿賱賶 兀爻胤賵乇丞 匕丕鬲 賵噩賵賴 賵乇賲賵夭 賲鬲毓丿丿丞貙 亘賱 廿賳賳丕 賳噩丿 賮賷 丕賱賳賴丕賷丞 匕賱賰 丕賱賲賷賱 廿賱賶 兀爻胤乇丞 丕賱丨丿孬 賱丿賶 丕賱賲丨賯賯 爻鬲乇賷爻 賳賮爻賴 丕賱乇丕賮囟 賱賱禺乇丕賮丕鬲 賵丕賱兀賮賰丕乇 丕賱兀爻胤賵乇賷丞.
October 8, 2020
Interesting narration of what could have followed the "Ballad of Doruntine and Constantine" or "Constantine's Besa", an old Albanian legend from the Middle Ages. In this novella. Doruntine, who has married someone in Bohemia, far from Albania, is brought back to her mother by a mysterious horseman. Shortly thereafter, she and her mother both die. Here is the text of the original ballad:
Kadare's story picks up where the ballad leaves off. Captain Stres of the local militia sets out to find just what REALLY happened. Could Constantine have brought her back? The only problem with this is that her brother Constantine had been either killed in war or died of the plague prior to this return to her mother's house. How could a dead man bring her back? After dropping her at her house, the horseman says he has some business at the church graveyard and rides off. The story follows Stres's investigations. Various theories as to the horseman's identity are presented besides that of the dead man resurrected from the grave to keep his solemn promise. Some Albanian culture is presented in the form of the besa: sacred oath that must be fulfilled even after death--much more serious than a mere promise.
The story flowed along and I liked following the different theories. Some Albanian history, politics and attitudes of the church [both Catholic and Orthodox] towards the occurrence appeared through Kadare's text. The translation of this work seemed pedestrian the first time I read it, in the original translation called but either someone different translated the revision retitled or Kadare's additions made it more understandable, but I enjoyed it more. Living under the Hoxha dictatorship, Kadare cloaked his feelings about modern Albania in this story. To me, Kadare is uneven; some of his works I've really liked and others not so much. This story really was spooky; I'd advise not reading it late at night.
Highly recommended.
Kadare's story picks up where the ballad leaves off. Captain Stres of the local militia sets out to find just what REALLY happened. Could Constantine have brought her back? The only problem with this is that her brother Constantine had been either killed in war or died of the plague prior to this return to her mother's house. How could a dead man bring her back? After dropping her at her house, the horseman says he has some business at the church graveyard and rides off. The story follows Stres's investigations. Various theories as to the horseman's identity are presented besides that of the dead man resurrected from the grave to keep his solemn promise. Some Albanian culture is presented in the form of the besa: sacred oath that must be fulfilled even after death--much more serious than a mere promise.
The story flowed along and I liked following the different theories. Some Albanian history, politics and attitudes of the church [both Catholic and Orthodox] towards the occurrence appeared through Kadare's text. The translation of this work seemed pedestrian the first time I read it, in the original translation called but either someone different translated the revision retitled or Kadare's additions made it more understandable, but I enjoyed it more. Living under the Hoxha dictatorship, Kadare cloaked his feelings about modern Albania in this story. To me, Kadare is uneven; some of his works I've really liked and others not so much. This story really was spooky; I'd advise not reading it late at night.
Highly recommended.
February 16, 2022
Kadare has written many exceptional books but I think this is my favorite so far, of what I've read from him. This is a story about a young woman, in medieval times, who showed up at her mothers doorstep in the middle of the night. She had married a few years before and lived in a distant land where she never heard anything from her family. When asked how she got here she said her youngest brother brought her by horse. The shock of what she said and her mothers reply to her were so traumatic that they both fainted into a near death state. The reason for this was that her brother along with her other brothers had all been killed in a war three years previously, so, if her story was true, she had been brought back by a dead man. So Captain Stres, the local constable, was summoned to investigate. Both woman died before he could fully interrogate them leaving him with little to go by but the archbishop demanded that he clear this up because only Jesus could rise from the dead. This sent Stres on a bizarre quest for answers.
July 3, 2011
I've read the book when I was in high school because of an assignment and as I wasn't much of a fan of Kadare I thought I wouldn't like this book at all.
Well, I was wrong.
The book is based on an old legend and taken from there to become a sort of mystery/yellow story with hints of political and historical discussions. The main line is an investigation and follows the hero struggle to find the truth about the death of Doruntine while trying to keep hold of his own personal problems. The story is then beautifully filled with interesting historic details and little essays that blend well and add to the main story.
The writing style is fluid and the book is a pleasure to read, carefully edited-nothing is said without a reason and every word leaves you thinking. You won't feel overwhelmed with details and things you don't understand but it's not an easy read either and it will keep you focused and intellectually pleased.
Well, I was wrong.
The book is based on an old legend and taken from there to become a sort of mystery/yellow story with hints of political and historical discussions. The main line is an investigation and follows the hero struggle to find the truth about the death of Doruntine while trying to keep hold of his own personal problems. The story is then beautifully filled with interesting historic details and little essays that blend well and add to the main story.
The writing style is fluid and the book is a pleasure to read, carefully edited-nothing is said without a reason and every word leaves you thinking. You won't feel overwhelmed with details and things you don't understand but it's not an easy read either and it will keep you focused and intellectually pleased.
August 26, 2019
Some websites classify this as "historical mystery" but of course, given the author, it is much much more. It is built on a well-known Balkan myth and incorporates the belief in a sacred promise which must be fulfilled, because honour can overcome death. It is about grief, relationships, life and death. But the medieval setting also obliquely reflects the situation of Albania at the time of writing, having cut all ties with the outside world, and raises the question of how an oppressed society can preserve its culture, and how culture should be interpreted and re-interpreted in the "modern" world. What a great novel, and what a great writer.
April 26, 2023
乇賵丕賷丞 賮賱爻賮賷丞 鬲丿賵乇 丨賵賱 賲賳丕賯卮丞 丕賱賲賵乇賵孬丕鬲 貙 賵賲丨丕賵賱丞 賴丿賲 賵廿毓丕丿丞 亘賳丕亍 賲丕 賴賵 賯丿賷賲 賵孬丕亘鬲 ..
November 7, 2021
E shkruar gjat毛 nj毛 periudhe t毛 ashp毛r totalitare, n毛 nj毛 Shqip毛ri komuniste q毛 t毛 zinte frym毛n, Kadare e mbulon dhe nj毛koh毛sisht i heq velin k毛saj t毛 fundit, p毛rmes goj毛dh毛n毛s s毛 famshme e cila lidhet drejtp毛rdrejt me t毛 kaluar毛n, historin毛 dhe identitetin. Kapiten Stresi, njeriu i shtetit, duke u munduar t鈥檌 jap nj毛 shpjegim racional nj毛 legjende q毛 sjell n毛 jet毛 t毛 vdekurit, nxjerr n毛 pah nj毛 absurditet akoma m毛 t毛 madh; 莽do shpjegim racional, 莽udit毛risht dhe paradoksalisht, ngjan m毛 absurd se sa vet毛 absurditeti duke na kujtuar se nuk mund t鈥檌 japim shpjegim t毛 arsyesh毛m nj毛 totalitarizmi t毛 paarsyesh毛m. Dhe ashtu sikurse Konstandini paraqet 鈥渞rezik鈥� p毛r figur毛n e Krishtit, duke ia c毛nuar autoritetin dhe pozit毛n hyjnore, ashtu edhe nj毛 veprim i thjesht毛, nj毛 lidhje e situat毛 familjare e shoq毛rore mund t毛 interpretohet si k毛rc毛nim i nj毛 sistemi autoritar q毛 tashm毛 e ka b毛r毛 skic毛n e bot毛s dhe si duhet t毛 jet毛 ajo dhe 莽do gj毛 q毛 nuk p毛rshtatet me t毛 duhet eliminuar. P毛rmes absurditetit t毛 goj毛dh毛n毛s, Kadare nxjerr n毛 pah absurditetin e totalitarizmit dhe nj毛koh毛sisht e lidh ngusht毛 t毛 tashm毛n dhe t毛 kaluar毛n, t毛 vdekurit dhe t毛 gjall毛t, duke i b毛r毛 t毛 gjith毛 p毛rgjegj毛s p毛r krijimin e nj毛 identiteti komb毛tar. Duke pranuar n毛 fund, i dor毛zuar 鈥渞ingjalljen鈥� e v毛llait, pra q毛 Doruntin毛n v毛rtet e solli Konstandini, Stresi k毛rkon n毛 k毛t毛 form毛 ringjalljen kulturore, identitare dhe t毛 vet毛dij毛s s毛 masave, duke ju rikujtuar se ndonj毛her毛 absurditeti m毛 i madh nuk gjindet n毛 fiksion (trillim), mir毛po n毛 vet毛 realitetin n毛 t毛 cilin jetojm毛.
September 20, 2019
賴匕賴 賴賷 亘毓賷賳賴丕 丕賱丨賰丕賷丕鬲 丕賱鬲賷 鬲兀亘賶 兀賳 鬲賮賱鬲 亘爻賴賵賱丞 丕賱丿丕禺賱 賮賷賴丕 賲賳 亘賷賳 禺賷賵胤賴丕 丕賱賲鬲賯賳丞 賵丕賱賲購丨賰賲丞 丕賱賳爻噩 丿賵賳 兀賳 鬲夭乇毓 賮賷賴 睾丕亘丞 賲賳 丕賱兀爻卅賱丞 丕賱賷鬲賷賲丞 丕賱廿噩丕亘丞貙 賵鬲睾乇賯賴 賮賷 兀噩賵丕卅賴丕 丕賱囟亘丕亘賷丞丕賱兀爻胤賵乇賷丞. 賵賴賳丕 孬賲丞 爻丐丕賱 賵丕丨丿 賮賯胤 亘丕鬲 賮賷 賳賮爻 丕賱噩賲賷毓 賴丕噩爻賸丕 睾乇賷亘賸丕貙 賷賰鬲賳賮 丕噩丕亘鬲賴 囟亘丕亘 賰孬賷賮 賲賳 丕賱睾賲賵囟 賵丕賱賲爻鬲丨賷賱 ... 賲賻賳 兀毓丕丿 丿賵乇賵賳鬲賷賳責.
丿賵乇賵賳鬲賷賳 丕賱賮鬲丕丞 丕賱鬲賷 鬲夭賵噩鬲 亘毓賷丿賸丕 毓賳 亘賱丿鬲賴丕貙 賵丕賱鬲賷 賳購爻噩鬲 丕賱兀爻丕胤賷乇 丨賵賱 丕賱賮丕乇爻 丕賱賲噩賴賵賱 丕賱匕賷 賯胤毓 賳氐賮 賯丕乇丞 亘兀賰賲賱賴丕 賱賷毓賷丿賴丕 賲乇丞 兀禺乇賶 廿賱賶 亘賱丿賴丕. 賴賱 賷毓賯賱 兀賳賴 賰丕賳 兀禺丕賴丕 賯爻胤賳胤賷賳 賰賲丕 賯丕賱鬲 賴賷責!貙 賵賱賰賳 賲丕匕丕 賱賵 毓乇賮鬲 兀賳 賯爻胤賳胤賷賳 賲丕鬲 賲賳匕 孬賱丕孬 爻賳賵丕鬲貙 賲毓 廿禺賵鬲賴丕 賰賱賴賲責. 賲賻賳 兀毓丕丿賴丕 廿匕賳責!.
賱睾夭 賲乇毓亘 賷爻毓賶 丕賱噩賲賷毓 賱丨賱 乇賲賵夭賴 丕賱毓氐賷丞 毓賱賶 丕賱賮賴賲貙 賵兀丨丿丕孬 睾乇丕卅亘賷丞 鬲乇鬲噩賮 賲賳賴丕 丕賱兀賮卅丿丞 鬲亘丿兀 賲毓賴丕 賲賵賱丿 兀爻胤賵乇丞 賱賳 賷賲丨賵賴丕 丕賱夭賲賳 賲賳 毓賱賶 噩丿乇丕賳 丕賱亘賱丿丞 ... 兀爻胤賵乇丞 丿賵乇賵賳鬲賷賳 賵丕賱賮丕乇爻 丕賱匕賷 毓亘乇 亘賴丕 賳氐賮 賯丕乇丞.
29.11.2018
丿賵乇賵賳鬲賷賳 丕賱賮鬲丕丞 丕賱鬲賷 鬲夭賵噩鬲 亘毓賷丿賸丕 毓賳 亘賱丿鬲賴丕貙 賵丕賱鬲賷 賳購爻噩鬲 丕賱兀爻丕胤賷乇 丨賵賱 丕賱賮丕乇爻 丕賱賲噩賴賵賱 丕賱匕賷 賯胤毓 賳氐賮 賯丕乇丞 亘兀賰賲賱賴丕 賱賷毓賷丿賴丕 賲乇丞 兀禺乇賶 廿賱賶 亘賱丿賴丕. 賴賱 賷毓賯賱 兀賳賴 賰丕賳 兀禺丕賴丕 賯爻胤賳胤賷賳 賰賲丕 賯丕賱鬲 賴賷責!貙 賵賱賰賳 賲丕匕丕 賱賵 毓乇賮鬲 兀賳 賯爻胤賳胤賷賳 賲丕鬲 賲賳匕 孬賱丕孬 爻賳賵丕鬲貙 賲毓 廿禺賵鬲賴丕 賰賱賴賲責. 賲賻賳 兀毓丕丿賴丕 廿匕賳責!.
賱睾夭 賲乇毓亘 賷爻毓賶 丕賱噩賲賷毓 賱丨賱 乇賲賵夭賴 丕賱毓氐賷丞 毓賱賶 丕賱賮賴賲貙 賵兀丨丿丕孬 睾乇丕卅亘賷丞 鬲乇鬲噩賮 賲賳賴丕 丕賱兀賮卅丿丞 鬲亘丿兀 賲毓賴丕 賲賵賱丿 兀爻胤賵乇丞 賱賳 賷賲丨賵賴丕 丕賱夭賲賳 賲賳 毓賱賶 噩丿乇丕賳 丕賱亘賱丿丞 ... 兀爻胤賵乇丞 丿賵乇賵賳鬲賷賳 賵丕賱賮丕乇爻 丕賱匕賷 毓亘乇 亘賴丕 賳氐賮 賯丕乇丞.
29.11.2018
May 5, 2018
This book was one that I loved while reading it, but I had mixed feelings about it after I finished. I devoured the book in one day, because I love a good mystery. How beautiful and interesting to have a mystery around an old Albanian folk tale. However, all the build-up went for nothing in the end. I respect the decision to pay tribute to the original tale, but you feel a bit like it was "much ado about nothing", in that you don't get a resolution to all the story that built up.
Although, I love the idea of getting twist after twist, and then boiling it down to the original core of the tale.
Although, I love the idea of getting twist after twist, and then boiling it down to the original core of the tale.
May 6, 2018
I admit that I read this and went a little like huh? How did the ending shift from a simple mystery novel to a monologue about what Albania is, or should be? And that the people listened and nothing changed in reaction (i.e. people getting married far away) - that sounded rather cynical.
Then I read this amazing review that broke down the different elements: /review/show...
I don't have anything further to add.
Then I read this amazing review that broke down the different elements: /review/show...
I don't have anything further to add.
August 15, 2020
Lib毛r i shkruar me stilin e Gabriel Garsia Marquez.
May 26, 2021
賲賳匕 夭賲賳 賱賲 丕亘丿兀 乇賵丕賷丞 賵兀賳賴賷賴丕 賮賷 噩賱爻丞 賵丕丨丿丞貙 乇丕卅毓丞 賵賲亘賴乇丞.
賰賷賮 賱賵毓丿 卮乇賮 兀賳 賷爻鬲賲乇 乇睾賲 賰賱 丕賱馗乇賵賮貙 賵丨鬲賶 丕賱賲賵鬲.
賰賷賮 賱賵毓丿 卮乇賮 兀賳 賷爻鬲賲乇 乇睾賲 賰賱 丕賱馗乇賵賮貙 賵丨鬲賶 丕賱賲賵鬲.
May 10, 2024
Mu desh te hap fjalorin disa here. Magjik si gjithmone.
August 27, 2024
丨賰丕賷丞 賲卮賵賯丞 鬲賯賵賲 毓賱賶 兀爻丕爻 賳爻賮 丕賱賲賵乇賵孬貙 賵丕賱廿賷賲丕賳 亘丕賱兀爻胤賵乇丞 賲毓 賰孬賷乇 賲賳 丕賱睾賲賵囟 賵丕賱丿賴卮丞 丕賱匕賷 賷氐賷亘 丕賱賯丕乇卅 兀孬賳丕亍 丕賱賯乇丕亍丞 貙 賲毓 丕爻鬲賯乇丕亍 丕賱賵丕賯毓 丕賱賲爻賷丨賷 丕賱鬲賷 賰丕賳鬲 兀賱亘丕賳賷丕 鬲丨鬲 丨賰賲賴 賮賷 丕賱賵丕賯毓 丕賱兀賵乇賵亘賷 丌賳匕丕賰貙 賯亘賱 兀賳 鬲禺囟毓 賱丨賰賲 丕賱丿賵賱丞 丕賱毓孬賲丕賳賷丞 賮丕賱兀乇孬賵匕賰爻賷丞 賵丕賱賰丕孬賵賱賷賰賷丞 賰丕賳鬲 賮賷 賵賯鬲 氐乇丕毓 賵賰賱 賲賳賴丕 賷乇賷丿 丕賱睾賱亘丞 賵鬲兀噩賷噩 丕賱賲賵乇賵孬 丕賱丿賷賳賷 賮噩丕亍鬲 丿賵乇賵賳賵鬲亘賳 亘丨賰丕賷鬲賴丕 賱賰賷 鬲囟毓 丕賱賲爻賵睾丕鬲 兀賲丕賲 丕賱賰賳賷爻丞 賵鬲賳爻賮 丕賱賴乇胤賯丕鬲 賵鬲丨賷賷 丕賱賲賵乇賵孬 丕賱卮毓亘賷 丕賱兀賱亘丕賳賷 "丕賱亘賷爻丕" 賵賴賷 賵毓丿 丕賱卮乇賮 丕賱匕賷 賱丕亘丿 兀賳 賷鬲賲 丨鬲賶 賱賵 賰丕賳 亘毓丿 賲賵鬲 丕賱廿賳爻丕賳.. 貙 丕賱賯氐丞 賲卮賵賯丞 鬲賳鬲賴賷 賮賷 噩賱爻丞 賵丕丨丿丞 賮丕賱賯丕乇卅 賱丕 賷爻鬲胤賷毓 丨亘爻 兀賳賮丕爻賴 賲賳匕 丕賱氐賮丨丞 丕賱兀賵賱賶 賵鬲賲囟賷 丕賱丨賰丕賷丞 賮賷 鬲卮賵賷賯 賵卮丿 賵噩匕亘 賵丕丨賷丕亍 丕賱丨賰丕賷丕鬲 丕賱卮毓亘賷丞 丕賱賲鬲賵丕乇孬丞 賵賴丿賲 丕賱賲毓鬲賯丿丕鬲 丕賱鬲賷 亘賳賷 毓賱賷賴丕 賲噩鬲賲毓 賲丕 貙 丨鬲賶 鬲賳鬲賴賷 亘賰孬賷乇 賲賳 丕賱兀爻卅賱丞 賵丕賱鬲兀賵賷賱丕鬲 賵丕賱丿賴卮丞 丕賱乇丕卅毓丞 賵賷馗賱 丕賱爻丐丕賱 : 賲賳 兀毓丕丿 丿賵乇賵賳鬲賷賳 責 賴賱 賴賵 賯爻胤賳胤賷賳 毓賷賳賴 丕賱匕賷 賯丕賲 賲賳 賯亘乇賴 賰丕賱賲爻賷丨 賮賵賮賶 亘丕賱亘賷爻丕 賵亘賵毓丿賴 賱兀賲賾賴 兀賲 兀賳賴 噩丕亍 卮亘丨賸丕 毓賳 胤乇賷賯 卮亘丨賺 丌禺乇 賵賱賰賳賴 兀丿賶 賴匕丕 丕賱丿賷賳 貙兀賲 兀賳 丿賵乇賵賳鬲賷賳 丕禺鬲賱賯鬲 賴匕賴 丕賱丨賰丕賷丞 賵賱賰賳賴丕 賮賷 賳賴丕賷丞 丕賱賲胤丕賮 兀丿鬲 亘賷爻丕 賯爻胤賳胤賷賳 責
賱丕 兀丨丿 賷毓賱賲 匕賱賰 鈥� ..
賴匕賴 丕賱賲乇丞 丕賱孬丕賱孬丞 丕賱鬲賷 兀賯乇兀 賮賷賴丕 賱廿爻賲丕毓賷賱 賰丕丿乇丕賷賴 賵賮賷 賰賱 賲乇丞 賱丕 兀賲鬲賱賰 廿賱丕 丕賱廿毓噩丕亘 賵丕賱賲鬲毓丞 亘賲丕 賷賰鬲亘 ..
賱丕 兀丨丿 賷毓賱賲 匕賱賰 鈥� ..
賴匕賴 丕賱賲乇丞 丕賱孬丕賱孬丞 丕賱鬲賷 兀賯乇兀 賮賷賴丕 賱廿爻賲丕毓賷賱 賰丕丿乇丕賷賴 賵賮賷 賰賱 賲乇丞 賱丕 兀賲鬲賱賰 廿賱丕 丕賱廿毓噩丕亘 賵丕賱賲鬲毓丞 亘賲丕 賷賰鬲亘 ..
August 9, 2017
"賲賳 兀毓丕丿 丿賵乇賵賳鬲賷賳 " 賲賳 亘賱丕丿 夭賵噩賴丕 丕賱賳丕卅賷丞 亘毓丿 睾賷丕亘 丕賱爻賳賵丕鬲 丕賱孬賱丕孬 責 兀丨賯賸丕 賴賵 賲賳 鬲丿毓賷 兀禺丕賴丕 " 賯爻胤賳胤賷賳 " 丕賱賲鬲賵賮賶 責 爻丐丕賱賹 賯丕鬲賱 貙 賵賲購丨賷乇貙 賷賲囟賷 賵乇丕亍賴 丕賱賲賱丕夭賲 " 爻鬲乇賷爻 " 乇丨賱丞 鬲賯氐賷 賲囟賳賷賴 鬲購亘爻胤 賵鬲購賮賳丿購 賮賷賴丕 丕丨鬲賲丕賱丕鬲 賰孬賷乇丞.
乇賵丕賷丞 噩賲賷賱丞 貙 賵賲孬賷乇丞 賱賰賳賴丕 賱賷爻鬲 毓賱賶 卮丕賰賱丞 丕賱乇賵丕賷丕鬲 丕賱鬲賷 兀賴賵賶.
乇賵丕賷丞 噩賲賷賱丞 貙 賵賲孬賷乇丞 賱賰賳賴丕 賱賷爻鬲 毓賱賶 卮丕賰賱丞 丕賱乇賵丕賷丕鬲 丕賱鬲賷 兀賴賵賶.
November 28, 2010
On the surface the most obvious comparisons to The Ghost Rider would be The Name of the Rose and The Brother Cadfael Mysteries since both features a character that might be considered the precursor of today鈥檚 police detective. Unlike the Franciscan friar, William of Baskerville, or the Benedictine monk, Brother Cadfael, Ismail Kadare鈥檚 Captain Stres is, a servant of the state who strives to remain neutral on the issue of religion. The problem is he has to solve the mystery of how a dead man could bring his sister on horseback from a foreign land and this raises issues bigger than working out whodunit and how they dunnit. It鈥檚 an old story being retold here and that鈥檚 the problem here, Kadare has to be true to the original story which he manages quite well while still producing something that a modern reader could appreciate. I鈥檇 be keen to see what he could when not writing with one hand tied behind his back.
You can read my full review on my blog .
You can read my full review on my blog .
September 19, 2020
me: speaks albanian
also me: reads the most famous albanian writer in french
also me: reads the most famous albanian writer in french
January 13, 2023
Spennende mysterium fra middelalder-Albania. B氓de spennende og interessant
October 23, 2024
"I en by som inte l氓g s氓 l氓ngt d盲rifr氓n hade man d枚dat sin g盲st/.../Det var d氓 man hade b枚rjat anv盲nda uttrycket "Han har v氓ldf枚rt sig p氓 Besa". I byn hade alla, b氓de unga och gamla, k盲nt sig h氓rt drabbade. De besl枚t tillsammans att en s氓dan skam aldrig mer skulle f氓 upprepas.
De stadgade att vem det vara m氓nde, k盲nd eller ok盲nd, som tr盲ngde igenom inh盲nganden kring deras by, skulle st氓 under beskydd av Besa, han skulle f枚rklaras som en v盲n och gynnas som en s氓dan, man skulle 枚ppna sin d枚rr f枚r vem det vara m氓 och vid vilken tidpunkt som helst, natt eller dag, och ge honom mat och vaka 枚ver hans s盲kerhet."
脛lskar, 盲lskar, 盲lskar hur Kadare f氓ngar de fina delarna av kanunin som format den albanska (g盲st)kulturen. Tio av tio.
De stadgade att vem det vara m氓nde, k盲nd eller ok盲nd, som tr盲ngde igenom inh盲nganden kring deras by, skulle st氓 under beskydd av Besa, han skulle f枚rklaras som en v盲n och gynnas som en s氓dan, man skulle 枚ppna sin d枚rr f枚r vem det vara m氓 och vid vilken tidpunkt som helst, natt eller dag, och ge honom mat och vaka 枚ver hans s盲kerhet."
脛lskar, 盲lskar, 盲lskar hur Kadare f氓ngar de fina delarna av kanunin som format den albanska (g盲st)kulturen. Tio av tio.
May 27, 2024
I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this novella--the genre is a little different from the fiction I prefer (I'm a fan of Stegner, Tolstoy, Hardy, and G. Eliot novels, which focus on characters struggling with ordinary emotions like love, grief, ambition, and betrayal). The Ghost Rider is a blend of social satire, Ichabod-Crane eeriness, and mystery. The tale is told well, nicely paced, and absorbing. This isn't a complex work, although it delves into Albanian social mores and frictions as well as folklore. The author's sly use of irony adds a bit of whimsy.
February 16, 2012
Based on the legend of "The Ballad of Constantine and Doruntine", the story is a detective mystery in the Middle Ages to discover the identity of the horseman who carried Doruntine from Bohemia to her dowager mother's home in Albania. When she and her old mother die soon after she claims Konstantin, a brother dead three years, brought her through one long, starry night, an explanation is called for. Was D's saying K brought her a coverup for a romantic escapade from her marriage in a distant country or was it a fulfilled promise (besa) by Konstantin to bring her back whenever her mother wanted to see her? The detective Captain Stres examines many scenarios based on those theories. He interviews the dying D, sends the deputy to read the piles of archival letters of the noble Vranaj family archive going back to 300 AD, and imagines the possibilities.
Why did Konstantin of all his eight brothers and mother encourage Doruntine to accept a distant rather than a local marriage? Why is K's cemetery gravestone out-of-place? If Konstantin returned from the grave as rumored, what must be done to avert heresy from spreading--a second resurrection in the Orthodox Church? Did Doruntine get caught in a lie in connection with a real horseman, an impostor? The archiepiscopate tells Stres in no uncertain terms to find the adventurer and to squash the heretical notion that D, who carried no great message for humanity, was a second Christ. The frustrated detective takes further action--messengers, rewards, surveillance, and even torture--to come up with a rational explanation rather than a supernatural one.
Stres's findings uncover K's dissident politics that urged Albanians to oppose outsiders' coercive laws, institutions, etc not of Albania's traditional laws. Albania was a small, strategic Balkan country fought over by neighbors and religions. K and his small group of disciples talked about renovating the traditional law of besa in which conscience would decide what was right and lawful. What conclusions will Stres come to before he explains to a great conference attended by the visiting nobility, the church representatives, and the public from far and wide what really happened and why?
Why did Konstantin of all his eight brothers and mother encourage Doruntine to accept a distant rather than a local marriage? Why is K's cemetery gravestone out-of-place? If Konstantin returned from the grave as rumored, what must be done to avert heresy from spreading--a second resurrection in the Orthodox Church? Did Doruntine get caught in a lie in connection with a real horseman, an impostor? The archiepiscopate tells Stres in no uncertain terms to find the adventurer and to squash the heretical notion that D, who carried no great message for humanity, was a second Christ. The frustrated detective takes further action--messengers, rewards, surveillance, and even torture--to come up with a rational explanation rather than a supernatural one.
Stres's findings uncover K's dissident politics that urged Albanians to oppose outsiders' coercive laws, institutions, etc not of Albania's traditional laws. Albania was a small, strategic Balkan country fought over by neighbors and religions. K and his small group of disciples talked about renovating the traditional law of besa in which conscience would decide what was right and lawful. What conclusions will Stres come to before he explains to a great conference attended by the visiting nobility, the church representatives, and the public from far and wide what really happened and why?
June 29, 2016
If I could choose any living author to write an episode of Game of Thrones, I would choose Ismail Kadare (Yes, I watched the last episode of Season 6 the night before finishing this book). Kadare's ability to write stories bring to life the past (or alternative pasts) well-grounded in mythology, legend, and history but imbued with the perspective, confidence, and cynicism of modernism (low, high, and post-) is among the greatest. Keep in mind this is after one, often two, translations to bring it to the English reader. In the Albanian or some cases French, his writing must be overwhelming vivid and visceral. His characters can be intelligent, calculating, cold, passionate, obstinate, murderous, dull but always seem to commune with some deeper and timeless currents which runs through humankind throughout time and space. Yet in Kadare's novels these currents could very well be some terrifying unknown, whose only constant is that it is one step away from enveloping all the same and smearing away any distinction between past, present, and future.
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