THE TREATMENT OF OTTOMAN EMPIRE PERIOD IN ISMAIL KADARE’S LITERARY WORK

Abstract

The period of the Ottoman Empire is specific for the traces and turns it caused throughout the history of Albanians, other European peoples, and beyond. Given the long stretch of time, with all its specifics, the interest of various intercontinental writers and scholars is great. Therefore, out of this conglomeration of interests and treatments that have been conducted in different times, the contribution and outcomes is diverse, too. However, during the scientific treatment of this historical period, many difficulties have risen, causing perplexities, inaccurate interpretation, one-sided evaluation that are also reflected in literature and other fields of arts and sciences.

A masterful, complex and multifaceted treatment of this period is reflected in the literary work of our great writer, Ismail Kadare. The works of this author about this imperial period have been written at different times, but these should not be analyzed in a straight line, according to the years when they were written and published, but rather in a comparative plan with the historical chronology. In treating this as a central theme, it connects the Era of Gjergj Kastriot Skanderbeg with two other eras, that before the arrival of his era and from the hero’s death until the beginning of the 20th century, with the disintegration of the empire.

Ismail Kadare through his literary work consisting of all genres, with artistic and philosophical mastery, breeds his convincing opinion regarding this historical period by giving messages of peace and freedom among people. This multi-layered work engages other readings that are also related to other current events. Therefore, I maintain that the treatment of this intriguing and interesting topic from different points of view, is important to the field of literary studies, and that through it there can be enlightened other cultural aspects as well, especially the relationship between history and literature.