I work only in the morning from 10 to noon. I still write by hand. I interrupt my writing when I feel that I've discovered something beautiful or, on the contrary, when I feel discontent. Ismail Kadare beautifulcontrarydiscontent Change image and share on social
I thought for a long time about leaving Albania, but at the same time to play a role in its life. Ismail Kadare albanialeavelife Change image and share on social
In general, literature is a natural adversary of totalitarianism. Tyrannical governments all view literature in the same way: as their enemy. I lived for a long time in a totalitarian state, and I know firsthand that horror. Ismail Kadare adversaryenemyfirsthand share on social
Dictatorship and authentic literature are incompatible... The writer is the natural enemy of dictatorship. Ismail Kadare authenticdictatorshipenemy Change image and share on social
If I manage to write something that I consider good and valuable in a particular place, that spot automatically has a special aura for me. In Albania, there are two cities where I have written the majority of my work: Gjirokaster, my home city, and Tirana. Ismail Kadare albaniaauraautomatically share on social
I first came across the script for 'Macbeth' between the ages of 11 and 12; it was the first book that shook my life. Because I did not yet understand that I could simply purchase it in a bookstore, I copied much of it by hand and took it home. My childhood imagination pushed me to feel like a co-author of the play. Ismail Kadare ageauthorbook share on social
For a writer, personal freedom is not so important. It is not individual freedom that guarantees the greatness of literature; otherwise, writers in democratic countries would be superior to all others. Some of the greatest writers wrote under dictatorship - Shakespeare, Cervantes. Ismail Kadare cervantecountrydemocratic share on social
We cannot deny that 80 or even 90 percent of the spiritual treasures from the past 3,000 years have come from Europe. There is no other Greek theatre anywhere else in the world. There is no other Shakespeare, Dante or Cervantes. Ismail Kadare 000cervantedante share on social
If you are a serious writer or just a normal one, in one way or another, you are writing in the service of freedom. All writers know, understand, or dream that their work will be in the service of freedom. Ismail Kadare dreamfreedomnormal share on social
For me as a writer, Albanian is simply an extraordinary means of expression - rich, malleable, adaptable. As I have said in my latest novel, 'Spiritus,' it has modalities that exist only in classical Greek, which puts one in touch with the mentality of antiquity. Ismail Kadare adaptablealbanianantiquity share on social