Ismail Kadare
1978
Around 200 pages
How embarrassing, we still had a book from the 70s to cover. I am guessing the List arranged the entries this way because the English translation was released in 1980. Otherwise, the Listmakers are just plain wrong about something, and we all know that couldn't happen.
Gjorg is a 26-year-old man who must avenge his brother's dad in accordance with the customs of Northern Albania. As a result of the revenge killing, Gjorg knows he will end up being murdered by a member of the opposing family.
Our first Albanian entry! And Kadare introduces us to the culture in a rather brutal way, like when he tells us the bride's family gives a bullet to the groom, in case she's unfaithful. There's not much plot here, but we are given to understand how out of step with the rest of the continent Albania was, considering what was going on in Europe in the 1930s when this story was set.
Kind of a miserable story, and if that is our only checkmark for this country, I think Albania got the short end of the stick.
RATING: ***--
Interesting Facts:
Interesting Facts:
Adapted into a Brazilian film in 2001.
UP NEXT: Rites of Passage by William Golding
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