The novel “Chronicle in Stone”, one of the well- known novels of the renowned Albanian writer, Ismail Kadare is now in the hands of Polish readers through the translation of Marek Jeziorski, Poland’s former Ambassador to Tirana, an excellent connoisseur of Albanian language with a ten-year experience in this Balkan country at different times. The novel has recently been published by Wydawnictwo Akademickie SEDNO, an independent academic and literary publishing company in Warsaw.

Mr. Jeziorski was Ambassador to Tirana from 2012 to 2016, and now he is a free-lance translator of literature in Warsaw.

The former Ambassador, an associate of the Albanian Institute for International Studies, who was decorated “For Special Civil Merits” by the President of the Republic of Albania in 2016, accepted with pleasure the suggestion of Albanian Daily News to have an interview about this special event, which he called an “unforgettable literary adventure”.   

During the interview Mr. Jeziorski unveiled his feelings of admiration about Kadare’s novel “Chronicle in Stone”, saying the work on the translation of the book gave him a genuine and overwhelming pleasure. “I experienced that every morning when I opened my laptop and tried to write in my mother language what Ismail Kadare had created.”

Having deep knowledge of the Albanian language, the Ambassador did not resist the temptation to read almost all the works of Kadare, especially during his ambassadorial tenure in Tirana, and some of them were topic of discussion during the conversation. He evaluated the meeting with Ismail Kadare in 2014 and said the following about that experience: “We talked on literature, but also on a number of other issues important for the country and the people, history, identity, future. The conversation offered me an insight into the Kadare’s way of thinking on problems he considered crucial for Albania. I saw that Ismail Kadare was deeply emotionally interested in the country’s future, its destiny and prosperity. Love for his country made him engaged in what he does the best: the writing. His essays are milestones of the Albanian literature of this kind.”

The former Ambassador expressed his happiness that for many years on the Polish Embassy had been able to continue supporting translations and publications of literary works of some outstanding Polish writers and poets.

Asked about his other works related to Albanian language, Mr. Jeziorski revealed that he is co-author, together with Jerzy Wi?niewski, of The Albanian-Polish and Polish-Albanian Dictionary, published in 1992 and 2010.  “As far as translations are concerned, I continue my work with another novel of Ismail Kadare and some of his short stories.”

The former Ambassador confessed that he always said that Albania’s ambitions to become a member of the European Union deserve support. “I believe that both Albanian political class and the Albanian people understand that the EU is not only the union of common economic policies, but first and foremost of fundamental values, which have to be constantly taken care of during the accession process, as well as after the accession festivities,” said former Ambassador to Albania Marek Jeziorski in the following interview:

Albanian Daily News: Mr. Jeziorski, it is a pleasure to have this conversation with you on a special occasion: the publishing of the novel Chronicle in Stone written by the well- known Albanian writer, Ismail Kadare, translated by you. Could you share with our readers some details on this endeavour?

Former Polish Ambassador to Tirana Marek Jeziorski:  A Chronicle in stone (Kronikë në gur) takes up a very prominent place in the Ismail Kadare’s literary output. It is no doubt one of the most outstanding and personal works of Kadare who, with his artistic skills, originality and language imagination, uplifted Albanian literature into the highest level.  When for the first time, years ago, I read initial lines of the novel I immediately fell in love with it. The writer detected in Gjirokastra, his home city of stone, personified beauty and tragic nature of life. The city interprets life’s “stony” sense through its ancient customs; Kadare is its excellent chronicler.  Kronikë në gur can be perceived as an enlivening and stimulating source of Kadare’s literary expression and message. The novel is written in a colourful language. Kadare boldly draws from a lexical variety of the Albanian language, showing at the same time his extraordinary linguistic invention.  Magic realism of Kadare, original, firmly rooted in customs of his home city and in his childhood memories, made the book so charming and attractive to me. The main protagonist, small boy, experiences his own world around, observes the city’s vibrant life through old rotten glasses, raindrops and fog, through a hole in an attic’s floor. His meditations and reflections are surprisingly logical, although sometimes inconsistent with the logic of adults. In the circumstances of war, fear, betrayal, flight and death, he finds refuge and inspiration in an unlimited imagination. The city itself is full of mysteries; its streets with strange names, its stony pavements, chimneys, houses coming closer and then suddenly walking away from each other, like people. The city has its own language made of its sounds and colours. The boy continuously speaks to it.

Kadare is a master not only of subtle grotesque and mystery. He uses ambiguous allusions and metaphors in a splendid manner. I believe that many Albanian readers, especially those who knew to read between the lines, could easily detect them when the novel was published in 1971. It seems to me that this was precisely the reason why so many Albanian friends of mine told me that Chronicle in stone was their favourite book. In extremely difficult circumstances they lived during the Hoxha’s dictatorship the novel gave the people the feeling that they could have a close intimate contact not only with a high-class literature, but also with the writings which could offer them hope. In my view, this is one of the greatest merits of Ismail Kadare.

I felt I needed to translate such a wonderful novel, to offer it first to my wife Teresa and then to Polish readers. It was an extremely strong feeling, a kind of internal conviction and belief that drove me ahead. The work on the translation of the book gave me a genuine and overwhelming pleasure. I experienced that every morning when I opened my laptop and tried to write in my mother language what Ismail Kadare had created. It was an unforgettable literary adventure. In this endeavour I had a constant support from Teresa and some of my Albanian friends. I am grateful for that. I also thank publisher Andrzej Chrzanowski from Wydawnictwo Akademickie SEDNO, an independent academic and literary publishing company, as well as Izabella Sariusz-Sk?pska, responsible for editing, for a very fruitful cooperation.

 - When you were ambassador to Tirana you were very interested in Albanian literature. What can you say about that experience?

- My greatest experience was, no doubt, the meeting with Ismail Kadare in 2014, in one of his favourite places, Tirana’s restaurant Juvenilja Castle. Bujar Hudhri, the publisher, was present as well. We talked on literature, but also on a number of other issues important for the country and the people, history, identity, future. The conversation offered me an insight into the Kadare’s way of thinking on problems he considered crucial for Albania. I saw that Ismail Kadare was deeply emotionally interested in the country’s future, its destiny and prosperity. Love for his country made him engaged in what he does the best: the writing. His essays are milestones of the Albanian literature of this kind. I appreciate very much the book he presented me at the meeting: ‘Mosmarrëveshja. Shqipëria përballë vetvetes’.

I followed with the reading of other Kadare’s novels and short stories. One of them especially impressed me. Although written in 1983, it remains topical today. ‘Sjellësi i fatkeqësisë’ (Messenger of disaster) could easily become now a point of reference for all those who fight for women’s rights.

Another book enriched me a lot. ‘Kohë e pamjaftueshme’, memoirs by Helena Kadare, should be an obligatory reading for everybody who wants to get some in-depth knowledge on the past of the country.

Various cultural activities we organized during my work in Tirana created for me the possibility to meet many outstanding personalities of Albanian culture, among them Maks Velo and Visar Zhiti, great interlocutors on Albanian, Polish and world literature, victims and direct witnesses of the tragedy of the country during the communist dictatorship.    

I also appreciate some of the recent historical and recollective books that give a valuable insight into Albanian troubled history and daily life of people in different periods of time. Among them I would mention Ben Andoni’s series of historical reports ‘Shqiptarët’ and two books by Blendi Fevziu, biography of Enver Hoxha and ‘Tirana e nonës’.

Literary interviews, by Monika Stafa in internet and Elsa Demo in television, were always of great interest to me.

- During your tenure as ambassador to Tirana some well-known works of Polish literature were translated into Albanian. According to you, what kind of role does literature play in the relationship between people of Albania and Poland?

- I am happy that for many years on we have been able to continue supporting translations and publications of literary works of some outstanding Polish writers and poets. Polish winners of the Nobel Prize in literature, Henryk Sienkiewicz, Czes?aw Mi?osz, Wis?awa Szymborska and Olga Tokarczuk, are well-known to Albanian readers. Thanks to devotion of a number of staunch translators Albanians became familiar with works of other writers and poets as well, Adam Mickiewicz, Witold Gombrowicz, Zbigniew Herbert, Ryszard Kapu?ci?ski, Adam Zagajewski, S?awomir Mro?ek, Adam Michnik, Leszek Ko?akowski, Andrzej Stasiuk, all of them being giants of the Polish culture. 

I would like to avail myself of this opportunity to express gratitude to all translators of the Polish literature. I will mention first of all Astrit Beqiraj (Best Translator Prize winner in 2013 for the translation of Kapu?ci?ski’s Travels with Herodotus), Pandeli Cina and Edlira Lloha, but also some others, Ben Andoni, Leonard Zissi, Romeo Çollaku, Bardhyl Londo.

Literature is the best vehicle for the people and nations to better know each other, to become closer, to comprehend their specific traditions, emotions, conceptions and ideas, fears and ambitions. No cooperation is possible without mutual respect and understanding. Time and money spent on writing, translating, editing and publishing should therefore be seen as possibly the most effective investment. Literature makes us more open, receptive, able to accept others.

In this context, the work of writers and their translators is indispensable. Ryszard Kapu?ci?ski always highly praised translators of his books. He, being a writer, considered himself one of them, “translator of cultures”. Polish blogger, who some time ago had visited Albania and has recently read Kadare’s ‘Chronicle in stone’ in my translation, wrote that if he had read this novel before his visit to Gjirokastra, he would had differently felt sounds of his steps on the city’s stones. This is exactly what literature means to us.

- As a good connoisseur of Albanian, which are some other works of yours related to Albanian language, people and the country?

- I am co-author, together with Jerzy Wi?niewski, of The Albanian-Polish and Polish-Albanian Dictionary, published in 1992 and 2010. I always feel some satisfaction, when I meet people who now, many years later, tell me the dictionary was useful in their work and journeys. Now we have in our disposal other large dictionaries, prepared by professor Arqile Teta. It was his great endeavour we all highly value.

As far as translations are concerned, I continue my work with another novel of Ismail Kadare and some of his short stories.

- How familiar are Polish people with the art, culture and literature of Albania?

- Polish public is gradually getting more and more familiar with the Albanian culture. We owe this not only to some specific cultural activities and hard work being done by artists, writers and translators. Already for some years now we have been observing growing number of Polish tourists visiting Albania. They inevitably have contact not only with Albanian beaches and mountains, but also with the culture of the country, both that of the highest level and the one of the ordinary people, cuisine, traditions, etc. Albania is visibly present in Polish internet portals and blogs.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that the Albanian art best known in Poland has been literature. Literary output of Ismail Kadare occupies, no doubt, the most prominent place. His first novels were published in Polish already in the 80s of the past century; a dozen of new translations followed in the last 30 years.

Novels, short stories and poems by other Albanian writers and poets were present in Polish bookstores as well. It was a touching moment for me when one day Fatos Arapi personally handed to me a volume with his poems published in Poland. Poetry of Luljeta Leshanaku, extremely fresh, original and unpretentious in my perception, is getting more and more appreciated by Polish readers. Anthology of the Albanian poetry of the XX century (with poems of some 30 authors) was published in 2005. I remember my occasional meetings with Ylljet Aliçka, author of a number of highly esteemed novels. Some of his short stories I read in Polish are masterpieces of emotions. I liked very much the novels Lëkura e qenit (Dog skin) by Fatos Kongoli and Virgjeresh e betuar (Sworn virgin) by Elvira Dones. Both have gained faithful readers in Poland.

It was an important development for Albania to create a special fund to financially support translations of Albanian literature into foreign languages. The fund, administered by The National Centre of Book and Reading (Qendra Kombëtare e Librit dhe Leximit QKLL), is crucial in the process of presenting important works and new developments in Albanian literature to the outside world. Jusuf Vrioni Prize for the best translation from Albanian into a foreign language has become a prestigious prize, appreciated by translators.

 -To conclude, Mr. Ambassador, what could you say about your experience in Albania, particularly your feelings about the people, their history, tradition and expectation of them to see their country as a full member of the EU?

- I spent almost ten years in Albania, in different periods of time. It enabled me to see how quickly Albanians could change, with their hard work, the country’s image. After some years of difficult transition, Albania is being perceived now as a fast developing country with the capital Tirana getting modernized every year, an attractive tourist destination, an ally in NATO and a candidate country for the EU membership. I would add: a country with the growing role of women in every sphere of life. It is an enormous change.

However the best experience and the best memories I have concern the people. I managed to continue cultivating some close contacts and friendships with Albanians. I have always been under the impression of their friendly attitude, hospitality, openess, readiness to help. I miss the atmosphere of Tirana’s evenings, warm touch of Adriatic and Ionian waters, taste of levrek të pjekur, mish tavë kosi or fërgesë Tirana. 

In one of interviews for Albanian Daily News in 2012 Ismail Kadare said that “Europe is Albania’s natural state. The only one”. I agree and this is the reason I always say that Albania’s ambitions to become a member of the European Union deserves support. I believe that both Albanian political class and the Albanian people understand that the EU is not only the union of common economic policies, but first and foremost of fundamental values, which have to be constantly taken care of during the accession process, as well as after the accession festivities.