In Gjirokastër, the birthplace of the great author Ismail Kadare, whom we lost a day ago, two condolence corners have been set up where citizens and tourists are leaving their messages in the placed books.

One of the corners is located at the town’s Old Bazaar, where the bas-relief “Honor of the City” for the author is placed, and the other at Kadare’s museum house.

The Mayor of Gjirokastër, Flamur Golemi, in a statement to ATSH, said it is time to initiate procedures to build a major square monument for Kadare, to honor his significant contribution to the city.

Today and tomorrow, entry to Kadare’s museum-house is free for visitors. Meanwhile, tomorrow, local authorities, citizens, and interested parties will hold tributes to honor the memory of the writer at the house-museum.

Ismail Kadare passed away at the age of 88. The government has declared July 2 and 3 national mourning days, while flags at state and public institutions have been lowered to half-mast in his honor.

The distinguished writer was born in Gjirokastër on January 28, 1936, and this city has been a perennial inspiration for him in his extensive literary career. With a body of work comprising over 70 works, Ismail Kadare remains one of the most important author in the history of Albanian literature, renowned for his numerous works in poetry, novels, essays, and journalism.

/a.p./