Ismail Kadare, the Albanian literary giant celebrated for works like ‘Broken April’ and ‘The General of the Dead Army,’ has passed away at the age of 88. His publishing editor announced his death on Monday, revealing that he was rushed to a hospital in Tirana. A nurse at the hospital, speaking anonymously, confirmed that Kadare had suffered a cardiac arrest.
Kadare’s writing often explored life under the communist regime of Enver Hoxha, using allegorical stories to depict the realities of the time. His work resonated with readers worldwide, earning him international recognition and making him a frequent contender for the Nobel Prize in Literature.
He rose to prominence after the publication of ‘The General of the Dead Army’ in 1963, a time when Albania was still under Hoxha’s iron rule. Both Kadare and the dictator shared origins in the Ottoman fortress city of Gjirokastër.
Known for his masterful use of metaphor and subtle sarcasm, Kadare fled to France in 1990, just months before the fall of the communist regime. Despite being labeled a traitor by the communist authorities, he continued to write and live in Paris until recently returning to Albania.
In recognition of his literary achievements, French President Emmanuel Macron bestowed upon him the Grand Officer of the Legion of Honor title during a visit to Tirana last year. He was also awarded the Commander of the Legion of Honor and appointed a foreign associate of the Academy of Moral and Political Sciences by France.
Kadare received numerous international awards for his extensive literary output, which included over 80 novels, plays, screenplays, poetry collections, essays, and stories, translated into 45 languages. His passing is mourned by Albania, the Balkans, Europe, and the world, as he was recognized as a leading voice of modern literature.
