A look at the new book about Noli as a translator, letter writer and polyglot on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of his passing

Short and Albanian

Express newspaper
17/08/2025 14:24

Written by: Dr. Lirak Karjagdiu

(On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the passing of Fan S. Noli)

Noli, pearl of modernity of Albanian language, literature and culture 

(About the book by Prof. Dr. Abdullah Karjagdi: Noli, literary translator and polyglot, published by ShB Armageddon, 2025, Prishtina).  

     This book by my father, Prof. Dr. Abdullah Karjagdiu, who passed away 4 years ago, is the result of a collection of his writings and papers published in our permanent and temporary publications during the 70s and 80s of the last century. I see it appropriate to clarify at the outset that, in order to preserve their originality, these works and papers of his compiled in this book, which focus on Noli’s contribution and role as a literary translator, have been published as I found them, with almost no intervention.

Regarding the importance and role of literary translation for the Albanian language, literature and culture, the author of the book highlights the fact that even the first document or monument of the Albanian language, literature and culture, Buzuku’s “Meshari”, is an Albanianized work. Meanwhile, he emphasizes that almost all the writers of the National Renaissance and the Independence period, and even some prominent authors of 20th century literature, have been involved in translations, some more and some less, and some more. In addition, at the end of the 20th century and at the beginning of the new millennium, selected works of the most well-known and famous writers of foreign literature are increasingly being translated.

The enrichment and integration of Albanian literature into world literature through literary translations

Therefore, according to the author of the book, Albanian literature has also been enriched by the translation of works and masterpieces of foreign literature. In fact, by translating literary works, Albanian literature proves that it is part of the treasury of European and world literature. In this context, according to Professor A. Karjagdiu, the role, mission, importance and contribution of Noli in this field is essential, crucial and irreplaceable, because he has boldly, foresight, intelligence and skill in translating masterpieces of world literature, setting an example of how Albanian literature can communicate and prosper and by integrating it into world literature.

       However, according to the author, although many observations, criticisms and studies have been written about Noli’s activity as a publicist, historian, orator, diplomat, literary critic, composer, playwright and poet, not many genuine criticisms and studies have been written about Noli as a literary translator. This seems almost an anomaly, considering that Noli dealt with religious and literary translations more than with any other activity and translated thousands of pages. Therefore, in this book, the prominent researcher and professor, Dr. Abdullah Karjagdiu, has focused his attention on Noli’s activity as a literary translator, which is divided into three main periods: 1. The early period, 2. The mature period and 3. The final period. In the early period (1906-1920), Noli translated several short stories from German, French, Norwegian and Greek literature. Meanwhile, from English and American literature, he has translated Washington Irving’s story The Arab’s gift from the cycle Tales of the Alhambra (1909), story by EA Poe Mask of the Red Death (1909), then the poetry of Llongfellow Skanderbeg (1915), then Shakespeare’s tragedy Othello (1916) and EA Poe’s famous poem korbi and the elegy  Annabel Lee (1918). During the second, or mature, period (1920-1961), he translated and published the three most prominent tragedies of English literature. Macbeth, Hamlet and Julius Caesar (1926). Meanwhile, in the last period (1961-1965), or of calm and old age, he translated a series of poems from English and American literature. Thus, from English literature he translated the poem In munch by R. Kipling (1962), the poem My homeland by W. Scott (1962), the poem  In the gospel of death by Ç. Ticborne (1963) and the poetry of W. Knox Human vanity (1963), and from American literature he has translated the poetry of H. Melville. The witness (1963) and the poem by E. Mekheni The man and the hoe (1963)

It is important to keep in mind that often the best opportunity for the enrichment of a national literature is achieved through the translation of genres, genres or categories that have not been sufficiently developed in national literature. In this way, the translated work often stimulates or provokes the underdeveloped genres of national literature in that sector or in that field where it lacks tradition. In other words, the translated work not only opens up chances and opportunities for the development of national literature, but also develops, enriches and advances national literature. Therefore, the author of the book, Dr. A. Karjagdiu, also highlights the fact that Noli translated when the tradition created in Albanian literature had not yet been sufficiently extended to such literary genres as prose and dramaturgy, since Albanian literature at that time was passing from Renaissance Romanticism to the period of Realism. According to him, Noli also had the criterion of choosing foreign works to translate into Albanian, because at the time when Noli was engaged in translations, the number of works and masterpieces of world literature was not large, so he chose, translated and gave Albanian, in general, those works that were needed by Albanian society, culture and readers.

The originality and genius of Noli’s literary translations

The book we have reviewed has 122 pages and consists of four main chapters. It begins with the introduction, which explains the role of Noli’s literary translations in enriching, enriching, modernizing and westernizing national literature. The first chapter, which is actually a work of mine published some time ago, is entitledOn Noli’s literary translations. I have included this work as a separate chapter in this book in order for readers to become better acquainted, more concretely and chronologically, with the phases of our great Noli’s translation activity. In the second chapter entitled Some new aspects of translation, The researcher, Prof. Dr. Abdullah Karjagdiu, addresses some new aspects of translation by examining and summarizing some ideas, principles, theories, norms, approaches, arguments, and debates of outstanding authorities in the world of translation theory and practice, such as Cary, Fedorov, Savoy and Vinay and Derbelnet. Focusing his attention on the essence of some new contributions of these authors, he points out that thanks to new studies and books, translation theory and practice have achieved such results that one can proudly speak of new phrases of science on translation, of course as an interdisciplinary science. In the third chapter entitled Noli in the face of Shakespearean metaphors The author dissects and explains the two ways of Noli’s translation of Shakespearean metaphors, whereby through the analysis of examples of Noli’s translation of four Shakespearean plays, he concludes that Noli often tries to faithfully transpose Shakespeare’s metaphors, avoiding paraphrases, generalizations and weaknesses of metaphors and metaphorical expressions, although, according to him, Noli is sometimes expected to paraphrase or adapt Shakespearean metaphors. Meanwhile, in the fourth and final chapter of this book entitled The inspired Albanian of rubbers, based on the analytical attention of our esteemed intellectual, academic and professor, Dr. A. Karjagdiu, are Rubaiyat of Khayyam, translated into Albanian by Noli, which have remained to this day one of the most successful and popular Albanian translations of our translated literature. Furthermore, the author of the book considers the translation of Rubairat as a special phenomenon, since in some cases the Albanian reader, even when aware that they are Albanianized verses of a foreign poetic work, has not hesitated at all to rank them alongside the original works of Albanian literature and to read them with the same care and attention as he reads original poetic creativity.

Kuteli for the greatness of Noli

            Therefore, Professor A. Karjagdiu expresses his deep conviction that Noli made Albanians not only capable of surviving and being read, but at the same time he gave us works translated with such skill and mastery that no one has managed to offer us until now. In fact, Noli’s translations have become an integral part of our culture, so that Hamlet actually lives in our environment only thanks to Noli’s artistic translation, while Rubaiyat they are read, reread and quoted only as and in the way Noli Albanianized and recreated them. Therefore, Noli had something Shakespearean, Fitzgeraldian, Khayyamian, Poetic and Ibsenian in himself. 

Precisely for this reason, according to the book’s author, it is not surprising that every time we read the poems translated by Noli, we have the impression that no poet translated by him lost the charm and beauty of his poetry and was not even damaged or “faded” by him. This is because Noli was himself a great poet and a rare artist. Because in the above translation, he, like a true artist inspired during artistic creativity, knew how to identify with the metaphor, the image, the poetic word and even with the poetic world of the poet he translated. He, when necessary, knew how to imitate and miraculously transpose the author he translated, but sometimes he struggled to find the appropriate and appropriate word, verse, idea and worldview in the language he translated. He knew how to penetrate the soul of the author he translated and to create and transpose the atmosphere of almost every work he translated and Albanianized. It goes without saying that, as the author rightly states, our most distinguished translator showed and proved through his work that to translate means to create artistically, with patience, wisdom and inexhaustible noble passion. He merged a large part of his poetic inclination into translation and therefore managed to make translations that captivate and fascinate even decades after the translation. Suffice it to say that just because Rubaiyat are such a masterpiece of translation, where the rare poetic talent of the translator, the dexterity and affinity of the talented and Russian Albanian translator stand out and come to light. With such translations, Noli was in a way able to take the Albanian reader by the hand, take him and walk him through areas where he would not have been able to step foot at that time. In other words, assesses professor A. Karjagdiu, Noli on the one hand showed and proved that he knew his native language deeply, but at the same time he knew a multitude of foreign languages very well and had a talent for recreating the works or masterpieces of world artistic literature. M. Kuteli also gave a very accurate assessment of Noli’s ability as an Albanian translator, who wrote: “It goes without saying that here the raw material, the theme, is foreign, but this material the Albanian translator has completely consumed in the flame of his own genius, giving us an Albanian equivalent of an absolute work. Such are the Albanian translations of Poe’s “The Raven” and “Annabel Lee”, by Longfellow “Skanderbeg” Albanianized in the rhythm and measure of our folk songs, some fragments from Shakespeare’s works, as well as a large part of Omar Khayyam’s “Rubairas”. It seems clear that, by choosing and translating works and masterpieces of European and American literature, Noli proved that he has a refined taste, that he knows very well the achievements or artistic results of prominent world writers, on the one hand, and, on the other hand, he also proved that he has a tendency and affinity for translations.

The torch and pivot of literary translation

          In addition, the author of the book states that Noli is the first translator of English and American literature into Albanian and also the first translator of Shakespeare’s works at a time when no one could believe that there was a possibility of translating the works of the world genius. Meanwhile, Noli’s motives for translating in the first phase of translation were aimed at awakening and deepening national sentiment, while later, in the mature phase, his motives were mainly the instillation of the idea of freedom, equality and democratic values and the elimination of reactionary, obscurantist and dictatorial ideologies. In addition, in his old age he also translated for educational, entertaining, meditative and philosophical purposes. Therefore, the author estimates, the translation of masterpieces of world literature, in general, and English and American literature, in particular, aimed to enrich national literature, on the one hand, and, on the other, to deepen or expand the artistic, aesthetic, ethical and literary ideas and worldviews of the reader.

            Another issue addressed by the author of the book, Prof. Dr. Abdullah Karjagdiu, is the vocabulary used by Noli, which is truly rich, a treasure trove, a jewel and a pearl, which has made an immeasurable contribution to the formation of the Albanian literary language. His Albanianizations, especially of English and American literature, occupy a place of honor in the enrichment of our national culture, not only as artistic evidence of that time, but rather as a distinct and permanent linguistic and aesthetic value. This is because Noli, through his Albanianizations of works and masterpieces of world literature, in general, and of English and American literature, in particular, has made a turning point in Albanian literature, and has been the torch and pivot of the modernization and Westernization of Albanian literature. Moreover, according to Professor A. Karjagdiu, these Albanian translations of the works of Shakespeare and others at a time when there was no great experience in the Albanian literary tradition, were the result of a serious and responsible work by an intellectual who amazed not only our linguists, but also personalities of world culture. In the series of many translations that also stand at the pinnacles of the values of translation studies in the Albanian language, the Albanian translations of Shakespeare’s tragedies are still considered the best of all the translations that have been made from many languages of the world.

The mystery of Noli’s translation strategy

It is of particular interest how the researcher, academic and professor, Dr. A. Karjagdiu, treats Noli’s translation strategy. Thus, according to him, all this genius lies first and foremost in the intellectual respect he had for the language of others, the literary values that he wanted to bring intact to our language, and with the wonderful knowledge of this language in its entire extent. This mystery of Noli also lies in his ability to activate new words that perhaps had not been heard or read until then. Having understood the powerful aesthetic and ethical word of Shakespeare, as a fundamental element for the construction of his great work, Noli modified it by giving it Albanian coloring, meaning and musicality, without risking that it could deform Shakespeare’s idea, without risking that it could give it another direction. On the contrary, Noli was very sure that moving away from a faithful, word-for-word translation that could have any linguistic weight would impoverish Shakespeare’s work in the Albanian language. With his action, towards Albanianization and not translation, he brought the Albanian reader closer to the essence of Shakespeare’s work and thus that work preserves its artistic greatness without harming its poetic idea and messages at all. He elaborates the form of the foreign word, in this case the English language, to the extent that he is convinced that it has acquired a form that is understandable in his own language, but from the same material

Meanwhile, in the end, I would like to say that this book contains critical, theoretical, practical, deep and genuine reviews, treatments and analyses of the highest academic and scientific level of Noli’s literary translations, focusing on Noli’s literary translations, in general, and on the translations of Shakespeare’s four tragedies and Khayyam’s rubrics, in particular. Therefore, we say with great conviction, with complete confidence and with pride that it will not only encourage other scholars to deal with Noli’s literary translations, but will also serve as an extraordinary and unique model for those who will undertake research work on illuminating issues of language, style and the contribution of the translation of Noli’s literary works to the development, enrichment, advancement and modernization of the Albanian language, literature and culture.