Aurel Plasari (born 16 September 1956) is an Albanian lecturer, scholar,
writer,
translator and professor.
Early life and education
Plasari was born in
Tirana
Tirana ( , ; ) is the capital and List of cities and towns in Albania, largest city of Albania. It is located in the centre of the country, enclosed by mountains and hills, with Dajti rising to the east and a slight valley to the northwest ov ...
,
where he completed all levels of his education. At the age of seventeen, while still in high school, Plasari began to publish translations from world literature ("Nëntori" magazine, Year 1973, No. 3). There are authors who describe him of Aromanian origin, although he has never accepted it.
Career
After graduating from secondary school, he fulfilled compulsory military service and, as for several years his right to pursue higher education was denied for "biographical" reasons, he started work at the most basic level of the press, as a copy-editor in the
typography
Typography is the art and technique of Typesetting, arranging type to make written language legibility, legible, readability, readable and beauty, appealing when displayed. The arrangement of type involves selecting typefaces, Point (typogra ...
for "Mihal Duri".
From 1982 he worked as literary editor at the magazine "Nëntori", an organ of the
Writers and Artists' Union of Albania.
After graduation in 1989 he worked as an editor of translated literature, and later in 1990 as secretary of the editorial board, at the same magazine.
Beginning in 1990 he became a part-time lecturer at the
University of Tirana
The University of Tirana (, abbreviated UT) is a public university located at the central borough of Tirana 10 in Tirana, Albania. It was established as the State University of Tirana (SUT) in 1957 through merging of five existing institutes ...
's Faculty of History and Philology. In 1991 he completed a postgraduate specialization at
"Alcalá" University in Madrid, Spain, and in 1992 he became a full-time lecturer at the Faculty of History and Philology (UT), where he also held the position of vice dean. In 1994 he obtained a doctoral degree in Comparative Literature.
Plasari was a lecturer and doctoral fellow for university subjects such as "History of Aesthetics" and "Principles of Aesthetics", as well as for special courses "Introduction to Narratology", "Theory of Reception", etc. In 1995 he became an "Associate Professor", and from 1995 to 1996 was a guest lecturer at
Inalco
Institut national des langues et civilisations orientales (; ), abbreviated as INALCO, is a French Grand Etablissement with a specializing in the teaching of languages and cultures from the world. Its coverage spans languages of Central Europ ...
(Institut des Langues et Civilisations Orientales), Paris. Returning to Albania, he continued to work at the Faculty of History and Philology (UT) until 1998, when he became director of the
National Library of Albania
The National Library of Albania () is Albania's national library headquartered in the country's capital, Tirana. It was founded in 1920 and inaugurated on December 10, 1922.
History
The Library Commission of Albania began planning the National ...
, a post he still held in 2014.
Since 2010 he has held the title of "Professor". In the Master's Course of Library Science's Second Level, organized in the Albanian education system, he has developed the subject "Introduction to Albanology".
From 2014 to 2023, he served at the Academy of Albanian Studies as director of the Albanian Encyclopedia Center. Since 2024, he is a freelancer.
From 1990 until 2014 he engaged in national and international scientific-academic activities, lecturing and attending conferences in various countries.
Plasari headed the new edition of the cultural magazine "
Hylli i Dritës
''Hylli i Dritës'' () is an Albanian periodical first published in 1913 by Gjergj Fishta, one of the most notable writers and poets of Albanian literature. It is regarded as one of the most important Albanian magazines of the early 20th century.
...
" in 1993–1997 (from the reopening until it was closed again), and wrote in the free Albanian press, including the newspaper "
Rilindja Demokratike
''Rilindja Demokratike'' ( and short RD) is an Albanian newspaper founded and continuously published in Tirana. Rilindja Demokratike is the official newspaper of the Democratic Party of Albania. Its chief editor is Bledi Kasmi. Its first publicati ...
" from its first issue, writing in various fields of culture, but also on policy. Beginning in 1990, some editions of
Fishta, Merxhani,
Harapi, and Beduli have been prepared by him; he also directed the series "Intelligenda" (Publishing House "55"), with various Albano-Balkanological's contributors, including
Jorga, Jirecek, Gelcich, Suliotti, Londres,
Konica
was a Japanese manufacturer of, among other products, film, film cameras, camera accessories, photographic and photo-processing equipment, photocopiers, fax machines and laser printers, founded in 1873. The company merged with Japanese peer Mino ...
, Nadin, and
Xhufi.
In 2012 he was member of Interministerial Committee of Celebration of Proclamation of Independence's 100th Anniversary.
Books and works
In Albanian
* , Tiranë 1990
* Vija e Teodosit rishfaqet, Tiranë 1993; T. 1995
* Letërsia dhe muret, Tiranë 1993
* Anton Harapi Redimensus, Tiranë 1994
* Kuteli midis të gjallëve e të vdekurve, Tiranë 1995
* Fishta i dashuruari, Tiranë 1996
* Plani i fshehtë për një Internacionale të re, Tiranë 1996
* Përballë një kulture të vdekjes, Tiranë 1997
* Biopolitika: ekziston në Shqipëri? Tiranë 1999
* Fenomeni Voskopojë, Tiranë 2000
* Dhjetë ditë që nuk tronditën botën (arlekinadë), Tiranë 2001
* Lufta e Trojës vazhdon, Tiranë 2002
* Rrëmbimi i Europës, Tiranë 2005
* Alfabete në Bibliotekë, Tiranë 2008
* Skënderbeu: një histori politike, Tiranë 2010
* Arbni historik, gjeografik, kishtar dhe politik, Tiranë 2020, Tiranë 2021;
* Barleti i hershëm sipas një dorëshkrimi të panjohur (with Lucia Nacin), Tiranë 2022 (Akademia e Studimeve Albanologjike).
Published abroad
* Saint Jerôme – fils d'Illyrie, Tirana 1990
* La linea di Teodosio torna a dividere, Bari 1998; Bari 2000
* The Line of Theodosius reappears, New York 2001
* Il ratto dell'Europa, Bari 2009
* La guerra di Scutari da un manoscritto sconosciuto di Marino Barlezio (with Lucia Nadin), Viella Ed., Roma 2024.
Translations from world literature
* L. Hughes, , T. 1976
* J. L. Caragiale, Një letër e humbur, T. 1977
* H. Smirnenski, Të bëhet dritë, T. 1977
* , T. 1978 (co-translator)
* A. Jozsef, Shoku pyll, buçit, T. 1979
* Muzat në vitin e luftës, T. 1980 (co-translator)
* Poetë francezë, T. 1980 (bashkëpërkthyes)
* A. Mizkiewicz, Vjersha dhe poema, T. 1980 (co-translator)
* F. García Lorca, Jerma, T. 1982
* F. García Lorca, Dasmë gjaku, T. 1985
* Tregime e novela të shek. XX, T. 1983 (co-translator)
* Antologji e poezisë së re greke, T. 1986 (co-translator)
* G. García Márquez, Gjethurinat, T. 1986, Prishtinë 1988
* G. García Márquez, Kolonelit s'ka kush t'i shkruajë, T. 1986, Prishtinë 1988
* G. García Márquez, Një histori me paskuinë, T. 1986, Prishtinë 1988
* G. García Márquez, Kronikë e një vdekjeje të paralajmëruar, T. 1986, Prishtinë 1988; T.1999
* , T. 1988 (co-translator)
* J. Cortázar, Autostrada e Jugut, T. 1988, Prishtinë1989
* F. Dostoiewski, Net të bardha, T. 1990, T. 1995; T. 1999
* Poetë spanjollë të shekullit XX, T. 1991
* M. Sorescu, Një flatër dhe një këmbë, T. 1993
* J. Cortázar, Armët e fshehta, T. 1999
* O. Fallaci, Mllefi dhe krenaria, T. 2001
* A. Ahmatova, Përzitje, T. 2003
* A. Ahmatova, Poezi, T. 2009
* I. Montanelli, Shqipëria një dhe njëmijë, T. 2003; T. 2005
* C. Malaparte, Teknika e grushtit të shtetit, T. 2006
* A. Ahmatova: Ballo me maska në park, T. 2019
* J. Cortázar: Qielli i rremë, Tregime, T. 2021.
Awards, orders and honors
* 2021 Order "Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu". The President of the Republic of Albania
* 2018 International Scientific Award for the most successful studies on Gjergj Kastrioti - Skënderbeu in the Nationwide Year dedicated to his figure and era. Academy of Sciences of Albania.
* 2016 "KULT" Award, for the study book "Albania and the Albanians in the 'Europe' of Pius II. "Kult" Academy.
* 2014 Order "Honor of the Nation". The President of the Republic of Albania
* 2012, Gratitude of Albanian Parliament In 100th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence of Albania
* 2009, Certificate of Gratitude, National and University Library of Kosovo
* 2008, "
Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
The Order of Merit of the Italian Republic () is the most senior Italian order of merit. It was established in 1951 by the second President of Italy, President of the Italian Republic, Luigi Einaudi.
The highest-ranking honour of the Republi ...
"
President of Italian Republic* 2005, Award "Best Practice", first edition, For National Library's Leadership, Junior Chamber Italiana /
Junior Chamber International
Junior Chamber International, commonly referred to as JCI, is a non-profit international non-governmental organization of young people between and years old. It has members in about 127 countries, and regional or national organizations in mo ...
* 2003, Award "Serembe", For the book "Lufta e Trojës vazhdon", "
Serembe" Foundation
* 2000, Award "Penda e Argjendtë", For the book's translation "Armët e fshehta", Julio Cortazar, Ministry of Culture
* 1993, Award "The best literary translation", For the book "Një flatër dhe një këmbë", Marin Sorescu, Ministry of Culture
* 1989, Order "
Naim Frashëri
Naim bey Frashëri, more commonly Naim Frashëri (; ; 25 May 184620 October 1900), was an Albanian historian, journalist, poet, translator, and one of the most prominent figures of the Albanian National Awakening. Regarded as a pioneer of moder ...
", "For special contribution as well as high artistic level in the field of literary translations", Presidum of the People's Assembly of Albania
References
External links
*
Albanian National LibraryRepubblica Italiana, il QuirinaleAurel Plasari
{{DEFAULTSORT:Plasari, Aurel
1955 births
Living people
Albanian male writers
English–Albanian translators
Aromanian writers
Albanian people of Aromanian descent
Writers from Tirana
Albanian atheists
Albanian essayists
Albanian non-fiction writers
20th-century Albanian historians
21st-century Albanian historians
Translators from Italian
Translators from French
Translators from Russian
Translators from Spanish
Translators from Greek
Translators from Romanian
Aromanian translators
20th-century Albanian translators
21st-century translators
Academic staff of the University of Tirana
20th-century essayists
21st-century essayists
20th-century Albanian male writers
21st-century Albanian male writers
Male non-fiction writers