The General Directorate of Archives, in collaboration with the Center for Openness and Dialogue and the family of the celebrated Albanian author Ismail Kadare, will unveil a remarkable exhibition tomorrow, November 14, at the Prime Minister’s Library in Tirana. Titled “Kadare’s Manuscripts,” the exhibit will feature an extensive collection of Kadare’s handwritten works, comprising over 44,000 pages, including unpublished novels, poems, and sketches that illuminate the creative evolution of the author from the age of 11 to his final years.

These invaluable documents were entrusted to the National Archives by Kadare’s family in August of this year, marking the beginning of an ongoing effort to preserve, restore, and digitalize the full scope of his literary legacy. The collection includes manuscripts for seminal works such as “Spiritus,” “Darka e gabuar” (The Wrong Dinner), “Ra ky mort e u pamë” (Death Came and We Saw), “Koha e parasë” (The Time of Money), and “Historia e Lidhjes së Shkrimtarëve” (History of the Writers’ League), as well as drafts, notes, and personal photographs.

Ismail Kadare, who passed away on July 1 at the age of 88, left an indelible mark on world literature. This exhibition offers a rare opportunity to explore the breadth of his literary contributions and the meticulous process behind his iconic works. The “Kadare Manuscripts” exhibit will be open to the public in the COD space, inviting literature enthusiasts and admirers of Kadare to delve into the inner world of one of Albania’s most revered writers.

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