Daniel Kehlmann in Albania

The 31 March brought a special literary event to Gjirokastër. In the salon of the house, where Ismail Kadare was born, author Daniel Kehlmann presented his novel Lichtspiel / Lojë dritash with his Albanian translator Anna Kove. The atmosphere was filled with curiosity and excitement. The pupils of the high school for foreign languages listened to every word uttered by the writer. After the event, Kehlmann joined intellectuals from the city in an open discussion about the novel. Miraculously, on the same day, the International Booker Prize shortlist was announced. A beautiful and symbolic coincidence as well as meeting of fates in the house of Ismail Kadare, the inaugural recipient of this award.

A day earlier, on 30 March, Kehlmann had presented the novel at the Albanian National Library in Tirana.

The readings are a cooperation between TRADUKI, the German Embassy, the Austrian Embassy, the Albanian National Library, the Municipality of Gjirokastër and Toena.