Ismail Kadare

“The writer is a natural enemy of the dictatorship,” said Ismail Kadare, Albania’s most renowned author, who passed away today at 88. Kadare lived by this mantra, using his works to fiercely critique not only the communist regime of Enver Hoxha but all forms of totalitarianism worldwide.

Ismail Kadare, the renowned Albanian writer and playwright, has passed away at the age of 88. According to Reuters, he died in a Tirana hospital following a heart attack.

The book "Time Shelter" by Bulgarian author Georgi Gospodinov has entered the short list for the international "Booker" prize, announced today at a special online event the chairman of the jury - the French writer and journalist of Moroccan origin Leila Slimani, winner of the "Goncourt" prize.

"Time Shelter" (Vremeubezhishte) by Georgi Gospodinov has entered the long list of nominations for the most prestigious international award given for a specific literary work, reported "Janet 45" - the Bulgarian publisher of the novel. The book was translated by the American Angela Rodel, who also became part of the nomination for the international "Booker".

Work is continuing on a bypass road in the UNESCO-protected city of Gjirokastra in southern Albania despite a call in July from the UN body for its urgent suspension to assess the risk to the renowned "stone city".

"Discussing Diamonds on December Afternoon" represents a collection of short stories from diverse periods of Ismail Kadare's work.

These start with his early writings that bring us back in the distant 1953, when Kadare was 17, to his mature age of creativity, concluded with 2008, when he finalized this collection.

Ismail Kadare said in an open letter distributed to media on Wednesday that he asked two weeks ago for the files held on him by the Sigurimi - Albania's Communist-era secret police - to be opened up so he can discover who spied on him.

"I inform you that I requested the opening of my file two weeks ago, without putting any condition or restriction [on it]," he said in the letter.