Gazmend KRASNIQI
Biography Poetry Gazmend KRASNIQI Gazmend Krasniqi (b. 1963) was born and raised in Shkodra, where he studied art and literature. He has worked for the Shkodra Art Gallery for several years and is a regular collaborator in leading literary periodicals. Among his publications are the poetry volumes: Në kryqin e dashurisë (At the Crossroads of […]
Teodor KEKO
Biography Prose Teodor KEKO Teodor Keko (1958-2002) was born and raised in Tirana, where he studied Albanian language and literature, graduating in 1983. He worked as a journalist for the literary newspaper Drita, and for the daily Koha jonë, and later became editor of the newspaper Aleanca and the weekly Aks. For a time, he was also a […]
Helena KADARE
Biography Prose Helena KADARE Helena Kadare (b. 1943), also known as Elena Kadare or Elena Gushi-Kadare, was born in Fier in central Albania. She studied literature at the University of Tirana and worked in journalism and the publishing industry. Kadare is the author of numerous short stories and of the first full novel ever […]
Mihal HANXHARI
Biography Poetry Mihal HANXHARI Mihal Hanxhari (1930-1999) was born in Kentucky in the United States where his father had emigrated in 1907. In 1931, the family returned to Albania and settled in Tirana. Mihal began writing and publishing short stories at secondary school. He studied history and geography in Budapest and, after graduation […]
Gëzim HAJDARI
Biography Poetry Gëzim HAJDARI Gëzim Hajdari (b. 1957) was born in Lushnja in central Albania of a family persecuted by the communist regime. He studied Albanian language and literature in Elbasan. In 1992, he moved to Italy and lived alone in Frosinone in the humble ruins of a building which had been abandoned […]
Elvira DONES
Biography Prose Elvira DONES Elvira Dones (b. 1960) was born in the ancient port city of Durrës. She studied at the University of Tirana and worked for a time for the television and film industry there. In 1988 she managed to flee the country, which was then still under Stalinist rule, and took […]
Romeo ÇOLLAKU
Biography Poetry Romeo ÇOLLAKU Romeo Çollaku (b. 1973), was born in the southern port town of Saranda, across from the island of Corfu in neighbouring Greece. He studied Albanian language and literature at the University of Gjirokastra and now lives in Athens, Greece. Çollaku is an author of Albanian verse of high linguistic […]
Stefan ÇAPALIKU
Biography Poetry Prose Stefan ÇAPALIKU Stefan Çapaliku (b. 1965) was born and raised in Shkodra. He studied Albanian language and literature at the University of Tirana from 1984 to 1988 and did a doctorate in Albanian literature from 1990 to 1995. He teaches at the University of Shkodra and also works for the Albanian […]
Ben BLUSHI
Biography Poetry Ben BLUSHI Ben Blushi studied at the University of Tirana, graduating in Albanian language and literature. He was editor-in-chief of the newspaper “Koha Jonë,” and in 1999 embarked upon a political career in the cabinet of Prime Minister Fatos Nano. For several months he served as deputy minister of foreign affairs, […]
Fatos ARAPI
Biography Poetry Fatos ARAPI Fatos Arapi (b. 1930) from Zvërnec near the port city of Vlora, is the author of philosophical verse, love lyrics and poignant elegies on death. He studied economics in Sofia (Bulgaria) from 1949 to 1954 and worked in Tirana as a journalist and lecturer in modern Albanian literature. In his […]