Albania: The nation will observe two days of national mourning for Ismail Kadare, revered as their "greatest cultural monument," following his death from a heart attack at the age of 88 on Monday. Kadare, a celebrated novelist often touted for the Nobel literature prize, passed away leaving a profound impact on Albanian and global literature.

Prime Minister Edi Rama expressed deep sorrow over Kadare's death, stating that the country's flags will be lowered to half-mast on July 2 and 3 in honour of the esteemed writer. Rama praised Kadare's enduring legacy, remarking that he now occupies a revered place in eternity. In a heartfelt tribute on social media, Prime Minister Rama thanked Kadare for enriching readers with his imaginative storytelling and criticised those who envied the novelist's success.

Kosovo's President Vjosa Osmani also paid tribute to Kadare, recognizing his significant contributions to literature both in Albania and worldwide. Acknowledging Kadare's enduring impact, Kosovo's Prime Minister Albin Kurti praised him as a beacon of creativity and individual genius during times of dictatorship. "He found ways to illuminate, to question and to laugh" even "within the harshest political and artistic restrictions", he said on X.

Known for his powerful novels like ‘Broken April’ and ‘The General of the Dead Army,’ Kadare used metaphor and subtle sarcasm to depict the tumultuous history of his country under communist rule, particularly under Enver Hoxha's regime.

Despite facing criticism and accusations from Albania's communist leaders, Kadare continued to produce influential work that resonated globally. His defection to France in 1990 marked a turning point in his career, although he dismissed accusations of collaboration with irony. "Against whom was Enver Hoxha protecting me? Against Enver Hoxha?" said Kadare in 2016.

Although Kadare was repeatedly considered for the Nobel Prize in Literature, he received the inaugural Man Booker International Prize in 2005 for his lifetime achievements. British novelist and biographer Nicholas Shakespeare said Kadare "should have been given the Nobel", while former prime minister Tony Blair's ex-right-hand man Alastair Campbell also took to X to say "such a great writer".

Translated into over 40 languages, Kadare's prolific writing elevated Albanian literature internationally starting from the 1970s. Reflecting on his career in one of his final interviews, Kadare highlighted how his writing served as a means to challenge oppression and censorship.

"The hell of communism, like every other hell, was smothering in the worst sense of the term," he said. "But literature transformed that into a life force, a force which helped you survive and hold your head up and win out over dictatorship… Which is why I am so grateful for literature, because it gives me the chance to overcome the impossible," said the writer, who despite being evidently weak, was still working.

AFP