Skënder Luarasi (19 January 190027 April 1982) was an

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 The Adriatic Sea () is a body of water separating the ...

n scholar, writer and

anti-fascist activist Anti-fascism is a political movement in opposition to fascist ideologies, groups and individuals. Beginning in European countries in the 1920s, it was at its most significant shortly before and during World War II, where the Axis powers wer ...

Life

Luarasi was born in Luaras of

Kolonjë Kolonjë is a municipality in Korçë County, southeastern Albania. It was created in 2015 by the merger of the former municipalities Barmash, Çlirim, Ersekë, Leskovik, Mollas, Novoselë, Qendër Ersekë and Qendër Leskovik. The seat of th ...

region (back then

Ottoman Empire The Ottoman Empire, * ; is an archaic version. The definite article forms and were synonymous * and el, Оθωμανική Αυτοκρατορία, Othōmanikē Avtokratoria, label=none * info page on book at Martin Luther University) ...

, today's

) on 19 January 1900. He was the son of Albanian patriot

Petro Nini Luarasi Petro Nini Luarasi (born 22 April 1865 in Luaras, Kolonjë, Albania, then Ottoman Empire, and died on 17 August 1911 in Ersekë, Kolonjë, Albania, then Ottoman Empire) was an Albanian rilindas activist, Christian orthodox priest, teacher an ...

, descendant of the ''Kostallari'' family of the Luaras village, and Lino Sevo. Though Luarasi was a

Protestant Protestantism is a Christian denomination, branch of Christianity that follows the theological tenets of the Reformation, Protestant Reformation, a movement that began seeking to reform the Catholic Church from within in the 16th century agai ...

, he named his son ''Skënder'' to refer to the Albanian National Hero

Scanderbeg , reign = 28 November 1443 – 17 January 1468 , predecessor = Gjon Kastrioti , successor = Gjon Kastrioti II , spouse = Donika Arianiti , issue = Gjon Kastrioti II , royal house = Kastrioti , father ...

. The poet Naim Frashëri was his godfather.
Luarasi performed the first studies in Albanian-language schools of

Negovan Negovan may refer to: *Negovan, Bulgaria, a village ** Negovan Crag, a peak in Antarctica, named after the village *Flampouro, Florina ( sq, Negovan, links=no), a village in northern Greece * Thomas Negovan (born 1971), American historian, musician ...

and

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 some ...

(1909-1911). After the death of his father by poisoning, he was sent to Robert College of

Istanbul Istanbul ( , ; tr, İstanbul ), formerly known as Constantinople ( grc-gre, Κωνσταντινούπολις; la, Constantinopolis), is the List of largest cities and towns in Turkey, largest city in Turkey, serving as the country's economic, ...

(1912-1913). Luarasi would continue his studies at Easton Academy in US (1914-1916), International College in

Springfield, MA Springfield is a city in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, United States, and the seat of Hampden County. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers: the western Westfield River, the ...

in US (1916-1918), Classis Gymnsium in

Freistadt Freistadt (, literally "Freetown") is a small Austrian town in the state of Upper Austria in the region Mühlviertel. With a population of approximately 7,500 residents, it is a trade centre for local villages. Freistadt is the economic centre o ...

Austria Austria, , bar, Östareich officially the Republic of Austria, is a country in the southern part of Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, one of which is the capital, Vienna, the most populous ...

, (1922-1926) and graduated from the Faculty of Philology at

University of Vienna The University of Vienna (german: Universität Wien) is a public research university located in Vienna, Austria. It was founded by Duke Rudolph IV in 1365 and is the oldest university in the German-speaking world. With its long and rich h ...

, Austria in 1930. During his return in Albania (1920-1922) he worked as a teacher in the schools opened by

American Red Cross The American Red Cross (ARC), also known as the American National Red Cross, is a non-profit humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief, and disaster preparedness education in the United States. It is the desig ...

Elbasan District Elbasan District () was one of the was one of the 36 districts of Albania, which were dissolved in July 2000 and replaced by 12 counties. It had a population of 224,974 in 2001, and an area of It was in the centre of the country, and its capita ...

. Luarasi started his literary activity since 1917. During the 30s he would distinguish himself as teacher, critic, journalist, translator, playwright, and director and cooperator of several press periodicals. He was editor-in-chief of the periodicals ''Studenti'' ("The Student"), 1920 in US, ''Djalëria'' ("Boyhood"), Austria, 1927-1928, and the magazine ''Vullnetari i Lirisë'' ("Volunteer of Freedom"),

Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = '' Plus ultra'' ( Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , ...

, 1937, together with

Petro Marko Petro Marko (November 25, 1913 – December 27, 1991) was an Albanian writer. His best-known novel is titled '' Hasta La Vista'' and recounts his experiences as a volunteer of the Republican forces during the Spanish Civil War. Petro Marko is ...

. The last was a 20-page periodical of Albanian volunteers participating in the

Spanish Civil War The Spanish Civil War ( es, Guerra Civil Española)) or The Revolution ( es, La Revolución, link=no) among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War ( es, Cuarta Guerra Carlista, link=no) among Carlism, Carlists, and The Rebellion ( es, La Rebeli ...

anti-fascist Anti-fascism is a political movement in opposition to fascist ideologies, groups and individuals. Beginning in European countries in the 1920s, it was at its most significant shortly before and during World War II, where the Axis powers were ...

s.
During the years 1930-1936 Luarasi taught at the Technical School of

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 ...

, Vlora, and Shkodra, until he left for Spain to join the

International Brigades The International Brigades ( es, Brigadas Internacionales) were military units set up by the Communist International to assist the Popular Front government of the Second Spanish Republic during the Spanish Civil War. The organization existed ...

. He had been previously arrested and imprisoned three time by the Zogist regime.
During the Italian and

German Occupation German-occupied Europe refers to the sovereign countries of Europe which were wholly or partly occupied and civil-occupied (including puppet governments) by the military forces and the government of Nazi Germany at various times between 193 ...

he was arrested and interned in several concentration camps, including

Vernet Vernet is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: Painters *Antoine Vernet (1689-1753), French painter, father of Claude Joseph Vernet * Claude Joseph Vernet (1714–1789), French painter * Antoine Charles Horace Vernet (1758–1835), a ...

Gurs Gurs is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France. History Gurs was the site of the Gurs internment camp. Nothing remains of the camp; after World War II, a forest was planted on the site where it stood. Ge ...

, St.Cyprien, etc. After World War II, he was elected representative of Kolonje region in the Albanian Assembly (1945). Luarasi was one of the initiator of the foundation of

Albanian League of Writers and Artists The League of Writers and Artists of Albania () is a non-profit organization founded with the goal of promoting and advancing the literary and artistic creativity of Albanian writers and artists, as well as to assess and reassess the finest works ...

and member of the presidium until November 1949 when he was expelled for several years from the League due to his anti-conformist behavior. Until his retirement (1967), he worked as teacher and historian in the State Pedagogic Commission, Qemal Stafa High School, the Publishing Company of the Science Institute, Pedagogical School, "Jordan Misja" Artistic Lyceum, and Faculty e History-Linguistics of the

University of Tirana The University of Tirana ( sq, Universiteti i Tiranës, 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'' in 1957 through merging of f ...

( where he established the English language major).
Until 1992, his activity focused on publicistics, monographs, theatrical plays, historical and literary studies. Luarasi was awarded "Flag Order" (1960) and "Honor of the Nation" (1996) by the Albanian government with the motivation "For distinguished patriotic, anti-fascist, democratic, literary, and educative activity". Luarasi died on 27 April 1982. Several schools in Albania and

Kosovo Kosovo ( sq, Kosova or ; sr-Cyrl, Косово ), officially the Republic of Kosovo ( sq, Republika e Kosovës, links=no; sr, Република Косово, Republika Kosovo, links=no), is a partially recognised state in Southeast Eur ...

are named after him.Shkolla e Mesme Teknike "Skender Luarasi" - Suharekë

Main works

Studies, monographs, memoirs

*''Isa Boletini'', short biography, Prishtina, "Rilindja" 1972. OCLC 43365281 *''Ismail Qemali'', biography, Tirana, Shtëpia Botuese e Librit Politik, 1972. OCLC 80727030 *''Les soeurs Qiriasi'', study, Tirana, 1962. OCLC 79170189 *''Kolonel Thomson'', monograph *''Petro N. Luarasi, jeta dhe vepra'', study, Tirana, "Naim Frashëri", 1958. OCLC 560911213 *''Migjeni, jeta dhe vepra'', study, Tirana, "Naim Frashëri", 1961. OCLC 462044090 *''Gjerasim Qiriazi, jeta dhe vepra'', study, Tirana, Naim Frashëri, 1962. OCLC 28785711 *''Sevasti Qiriazi, vepra'', study *''Në Brigadat internacionale'', memories, Tirana, Toena, 1996. OCLC 37228386 *''Fjala shqipe'', study, Tirana, "Naim Frashëri", 1961. OCLC 462053473 *''Fjala e lirë shqipe (publicistikë e studime)'', study *''Kujtime historike'', memoirs *''Kujtime autobiografike (Ç'kam parë e ç'kam dëgjuar)'', autobiographic collection *''Tri jetë, Koloneli Tomson - Ismail Qemali - Isa Boletini'', collection of biographies, Tirana, "Migjeni", 2007.

Theatrical plays

*''Agimi i Lirisë (Freedom's Dawn)'' *''Stuhi në prill (Storm in April)''

As co-author

*''Zgjimi Kombëtar Shqiptar : 1878-1912 (Albanian National Awakening)'', Stavro Skëndi; Skender Luarasi; Nestor Nepravishta, Tirana, Phoenix : Shtëpia e Librit dhe e Komunikimit, 2000,

Translations to Albanian

*'' Enoch Arden'' by

Alfred Tennyson Alfred Tennyson, 1st Baron Tennyson (6 August 1809 – 6 October 1892) was an English poet. He was the Poet Laureate during much of Queen Victoria's reign. In 1829, Tennyson was awarded the Chancellor's Gold Medal at Cambridge for one of hi ...

, "Shtypshkronja Tirana", 1936. *''

King Lear ''King Lear'' is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare. It is based on the mythological Leir of Britain. King Lear, in preparation for his old age, divides his power and land between two of his daughters. He becomes destitute and insane a ...

'' by

Shakespeare William Shakespeare ( 26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's natio ...

, Prishtina, "Rilindja", 1968. OCLC 503885742 *''

Richard III Richard III (2 October 145222 August 1485) was King of England and Lord of Ireland from 26 June 1483 until his death in 1485. He was the last king of the House of York and the last of the Plantagenet dynasty. His defeat and death at the Bat ...

'' by

, Prishtina, "Rilindja", 1968. OCLC 503889228 *''

The Merchant of Venice ''The Merchant of Venice'' is a play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1596 and 1598. A merchant in Venice named Antonio defaults on a large loan provided by a Jewish moneylender, Shylock. Although classified as ...

'' by

, Prishtina, "Rilindja", 1968. OCLC 503895560 *''

'' by

Thomas Whincop Thomas Whincop (2 June 1697 – 1730) was an English compiler of theatrical history. Life He is identified as the son of Thomas Whincop, D.D., rector of St Mary Abchurch. On that basis he was educated at Merchant Taylor's School and Corpus Christ ...

, Shtëpia Botonjëse "Naim Frashëri", 1967. OCLC 504060109 *''

Oliver Twist ''Oliver Twist; or, The Parish Boy's Progress'', Charles Dickens's second novel, was published as a serial from 1837 to 1839, and as a three-volume book in 1838. Born in a workhouse, the orphan Oliver Twist is bound into apprenticeship with ...

'' by

Charles Dickens Charles John Huffam Dickens (; 7 February 1812 – 9 June 1870) was an English writer and social critic. He created some of the world's best-known fictional characters and is regarded by many as the greatest novelist of the Victorian e ...

, Prishtina, 1961, OCLC 558205528 *''

The Song of Hiawatha ''The Song of Hiawatha'' is an 1855 epic poem in trochaic tetrameter by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow which features Native American characters. The epic relates the fictional adventures of an Ojibwe warrior named Hiawatha and the tragedy of his ...

'' by

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (February 27, 1807 – March 24, 1882) was an American poet and educator. His original works include " Paul Revere's Ride", '' The Song of Hiawatha'', and '' Evangeline''. He was the first American to completely tra ...

, Tirana, 1960. OCLC 562688044 *''

Faust Faust is the protagonist of a classic German folklore, German legend based on the historical Johann Georg Faust ( 1480–1540). The wiktionary:erudite, erudite Faust is highly successful yet dissatisfied with his life, which leads him to make a ...

'' by

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (28 August 1749 – 22 March 1832) was a German poet, playwright, novelist, scientist, statesman, theatre director, and critic. His works include plays, poetry, literature, and aesthetic criticism, as well as tr ...

, Tirana, Ndërmarrja shtetrore e botimeve, 1957. OCLC 163308588 *'' Fuente Ovehuna'' by

Lope de Vega Félix Lope de Vega y Carpio ( , ; 25 November 156227 August 1635) was a Spanish playwright, poet, and novelist. He was one of the key figures in the Spanish Golden Age of Baroque literature. His reputation in the world of Spanish literatu ...

, Prishtina, "Rilindja", 1980. OCLC 441739925 *''

Götz von Berlichingen Gottfried "Götz" von Berlichingen (1480 – 23 July 1562), also known as Götz of the Iron Hand, was a German (Franconian) Imperial Knight (''Reichsritter''), mercenary, and poet. He was born around 1480 into the noble family of Berliching ...

'' by

, Tirana, "Naim Frashëri", 1959. OCLC 43129221 *''

Intrigue and Love ''Intrigue and Love'', sometimes ''Love and Intrigue'', ''Love and Politics'' or ''Luise Miller'' (german: Kabale und Liebe, ; literally "'' Cabal and Love''") is a five-act play written by the German dramatist Friedrich Schiller. His third pla ...

'' by

Friedrich Schiller Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller (, short: ; 10 November 17599 May 1805) was a German playwright, poet, and philosopher. During the last seventeen years of his life (1788–1805), Schiller developed a productive, if complicated, friends ...

, Tirana, Ndërmarrja shtetërore e botimeve, 1955. OCLC 796248147 *''

Childe Harold's Pilgrimage ''Childe Harold's Pilgrimage'' is a long narrative poem in four parts written by Lord Byron. The poem was published between 1812 and 1818. Dedicated to " Ianthe", it describes the travels and reflections of a world-weary young man, who is dis ...

'' by

Byron George Gordon Byron, 6th Baron Byron (22 January 1788 – 19 April 1824), known simply as Lord Byron, was an English romantic poet and peer. He was one of the leading figures of the Romantic movement, and has been regarded as among the ...

, Tirana, Ndermarrja Shteterore e Botimeve, 1956. OCLC 248867971 *''

Emilia Galotti ''Emilia Galotti'' () is a play in five acts by Gotthold Ephraim Lessing (1729–1781), which premiered on 8 March 1772 in Brunswick ("Braunschweig" in German). The work is a classic example of German ''bürgerliches Trauerspiel'' ( bourgeois ...

'' by

Gotthold Ephraim Lessing Gotthold Ephraim Lessing (, ; 22 January 1729 – 15 February 1781) was a philosopher, dramatist, publicist and art critic, and a representative of the Enlightenment era. His plays and theoretical writings substantially influenced the developm ...

, Tirana, "Naim Frashëri", 1962. OCLC 72370973 *'' Leaves of Grass'' by

Walt Whitman Walter Whitman (; May 31, 1819 – March 26, 1892) was an American poet, essayist and journalist. A humanist, he was a part of the transition between transcendentalism and realism, incorporating both views in his works. Whitman is among ...

, Tirana, Ndërmarrja Shtetërore e botimeve, 1956. OCLC 660230353 *''

William Tell William Tell (german: Wilhelm Tell, ; french: Guillaume Tell; it, Guglielmo Tell; rm, Guglielm Tell) is a folk hero of Switzerland. According to the legend, Tell was an expert mountain climber and marksman with a crossbow who assassinated Albr ...

'' by

, Tirana, Shtëpia botuese "Naim Frashëri", 1975. OCLC 77886954 *''Albania: Its discontents and their origin'' by Frederick Morton Eden (1865-1948), Tirana, Infbotues, 2011.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Luarasi, Skender Albanian writers Albanian translators English–Albanian translators German–Albanian translators Robert College alumni People from Kolonjë People from Janina vilayet 1900 births 1982 deaths Albanian people of the Spanish Civil War 20th-century translators

Life

Main works

Studies, monographs, memoirs

Theatrical plays

As co-author

Translations to Albanian

See also

References