Fatmir Gjata (1922–1989) was a prominent Albanian writer of

Socialist Realism Socialist realism is a style of idealized realistic art that was developed in the Soviet Union and was the official style in that country between 1932 and 1988, as well as in other socialist countries after World War II. Socialist realism is c ...

Life

Fatmir Gjata was born in

Korçë Korçë (; sq-definite, Korça) is the eighth most populous city of the Republic of Albania and the seat of Korçë County and Korçë Municipality. The total population is 75,994 (2011 census), in a total area of . It stands on a plateau som ...

Albania Albania ( ; sq, Shqipëri or ), or , also or . officially the Republic of Albania ( sq, Republika e Shqipërisë), is a country in Southeastern Europe. It is located on the Adriatic and Ionian Seas within the Mediterranean Sea and shares ...

, in 1922. His father, Isuf Gjata, was a teacher who joined the National Liberation Movement during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

and fell in 1944. Fatmir Gjata studied in the French Lyceum of Korçë and later he attended the Maxim Gorky Literature Institute in

Moscow Moscow ( , US chiefly ; rus, links=no, Москва, r=Moskva, p=mɐskˈva, a=Москва.ogg) is the capital and largest city of Russia. The city stands on the Moskva River in Central Russia, with a population estimated at 13.0 millio ...

. As a communist and a poet, he wrote several poetry volumes during World War II and later, some of which would become known partisan songs. During the war he was in charge of a local illegal newspaper. His poetry was embroidered with march-style enthusiasm and solemn lexicology. He would claim his place in Albanian literature during 1950-90 period with his novels, theatrical plays, short story volumes and screenplays, some of which would turn into films such as ''Tana'', the first Albanian movie. Fatmir Gjata is also known for directing some of the most important institutes of art and culture in

Communist Albania The People's Socialist Republic of Albania ( sq, Republika Popullore Socialiste e Shqipërisë, links=no) was the Marxist–Leninist one party state that existed in Albania from 1946 to 1992 (the official name of the country was the People's R ...

. He served as Chairman of the Committee for Arts and Culture, member of the Albanian League of Writers and Artists,

editor-in-chief An editor-in-chief (EIC), also known as lead editor or chief editor, is a publication's editorial leader who has final responsibility for its operations and policies. The highest-ranking editor of a publication may also be titled editor, managing ...

for 25 years of ''

Nëntori "Nëntori" (; ) is a song by Albanian singer Arilena Ara. The song was entirely written by Albanian musician Lindon Berisha and produced by Macedonian producer Darko Dimitrov. ''Note: Open description for credits.'' It was primarily composed fo ...

'' literary magazine, journalist, and member of the collegial council for other press organs such as ''

Zëri i Popullit ''Zëri i Popullit'' ( en, Voice of the People) is an Albanian online newspaper. It was the official press organ of the Party of Labour and, later, of the Socialist Party of Albania, but it later ceased print publication and became an independe ...

'', '' Drita'', '' Ylli'', '' Hosteni'', etc. His work has been translated into other languages. Many of his works received national prizes in Albania, such as "Republic's First Prize", "Order of the Flag of First Class", etc. He died in

Tirana Tirana ( , ; aln, Tirona) is the capital and 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 overlooking the Adriatic Sea ...

, in 1989.

Prominent works

* (The Swamp), 1959 (novel) * (The Counselors), 1979 (novel) * (At the doorstep of life), 1960 (short stories) * (Spring eve), 1977 (novel) * (Generations), 1968 (novel) * , 1958 (novel) * (The overthrow), 1954 (novel) * (In the Chinese land – memoirs and stories), 1958 (co-author with Sterjo Spasse) * (With a bagful of bullets: diary), 1982 (memoirs) * (In the streets among simple people), 1969 (stories collection) * (Heroes of Vig), 1959 (story) * (The enemies), 1966 (novel)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gjata, Fatmir 20th-century Albanian writers Albanian-language writers 1922 births 1989 deaths Albanian communists People from Korçë Albanian journalists Albanian resistance members Socialist realism writers Albanian National Lyceum alumni Albanian male writers Albanian novelists 20th-century novelists Albanian male short story writers Albanian short story writers Albanian dramatists and playwrights 20th-century dramatists and playwrights Albanian screenwriters Male screenwriters Male dramatists and playwrights Male novelists 20th-century short story writers Maxim Gorky Literature Institute alumni 20th-century journalists 20th-century screenwriters Albanian expatriates in the Soviet Union