Nov. 12 - The 17th Book Fair of Tirana kicks off today and will run until November 16 in the capital’s Palace of Congresses. The fair, which sees the participation of the Italian Institute of Culture, focuses this year on Girolamo De Rada, the central arbëreshe literatary and cultural figure of the 19th century, to commemorate the bicentennial of his birth. The IIC has decided to organize a tribute to De Rapa through various initiatives, including a talk with Francesco Altimari (University of Calabria) and Matteo Mandala (University of Palermo), scheduled for tomorrow at 1pm in the Oval Room of the Palace of Congresses. The two scholars will talk about the cultural role of Naples in the identity construction process in Albania. The following day, on November 14 at 10 am, the IIC stand will present a facsimile edition of the magazine "Albanese d’Italia" by De Rada, published by Rubbettino with the support of the Solano Foundation and the Embassy of Italy in Tirana. The stand will also host reproductions of works by arbëresh painter Franco Azzinari, inspired by De Rada’s "Canti di Milosao." A video, produced by the University of Calabria, will look into De Rada’s life artistically, re-interpreted by Shpend Bengu. The stand will also ensure that several books will receive the proper presentation: Friday, November 14, at 6pm, Elio Miracco (La Sapienza University) will present "Prometeo in Albania" by Mauro Geraci, and "Il visionario alato e la donna proibita" by Visar Zhiti, published by Rubbettino, which will be present at the stand. Saturday, November 15 at 6pm, Antonio Caiazza, writer and journalist, will present his second work dedicated to Albania, "La notte dei vinti," published by Nutrimenti. The book reconstructs, between archival documents and fiction, the tragic death of Beqir Balluku, defense minister accused of high treason by Enver Hoxha. (Paf)

GIROLAMO DE RADA

The Calabrian-Albanian poet and writer Girolamo De Rada founded in Naples in 1848 the newspaper “L’Albanese d’Italia.” Between 1883 and 1887, De Rada published the bilingual magazine "Fiàmuri Arbërit." With the poem "Milosao" (1836) he inspired the Albanian renaissance, of which he was one of the greatest entertainers. Milosao is a series of romances within which emerge the ethnic peculiarities of the Albanians who fled to Italy in the 15th century, preserving the language and traditions of their homeland. His "I Canti di Serafina Thopia" (1843), the poems of "Scanderberg il disavventurato" (1873-84) and "Uno specchio di Umano Transito" (1897) make De Rada one of the greatest poets of Albania. Very important is also his collection of Italo-Albanian folk songs "Rapsodie d’un poema albanese" (1866). His works include the tragedy "Sofonisba" (1891) and "Autobiologia" (1898-99).