The Fall of the Stone City by Ismail Kadare

The Fall of the Stone City by Ismail Kadare

It is 1943, and the Second World War is ravaging Europe. Mussolini decides to pull out of his alliance with the Nazis, and withdraws the Italian troops occupying Albania. Soon after, Nazi forces invade Albania from occupied Greece. The first settlement in their path is the ancient stone city of Gjirokaster, an Albanian stronghold since the fourteenth century. The townsfolk have no choice but to surrender to the Nazis, but are confused when they see that one of the town's residents, a certain Dr. Gurameto, seems to be showing the invading Nazi Colonel great hospitality. That evening, strains of Schubert from the doctor's gramophone waft out into the cobbled streets of the city, and the sounds of a dinner party are heard. The sudden disappearance of the Nazis the next morning leaves the town wondering if they might have dreamt the events of the previous night. But as Albania moves into a period of occupation by the Nazis, and then is taken over by the communists, Dr. Gurameto is forced to answer for what happened on the evening of the Nazi's invasion, and finally explain the events of that long, strange night.

Dealing with themes of resistance in a dictatorship, and steeped in Albanian folklore and legend, The Fall of the Stone City shows Kadare at the height of his powers.

Ismail Kadare is Albania's best-known poet and novelist, having won the inaugural Man Booker International Award. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential writers of our time. More than forty nations have produced translations of his novels. He splits his time between Tirana, Albania, and Paris, France.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9780802120687
ISBN 10	0802120687
Title	The Fall of the Stone City
Author	Ismail Kadare
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Hardback
Publisher	Grove Press
Year published	2013-01-29
Number of pages	176
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.