Alketa Spahiu
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Alketa Spahiu
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Alketa Spahiu is a researcher and specialist in comparative literature
Early life and education
[edit]Alketa Spahiu was born on April 18, 1974, in the Gradishta camp, Lushnjë, Albania. She is the daughter of Arsim Spahiu, a historian specializing in Illyrian and Pelasgian studies. She grew up in harsh conditions of internment, surrounded by books, family legends, and mythology. Her life represents a rich intellectual journey, transitioning from a childhood of deprivation in an isolated Albania to reaching the heights of the French academic world.
Following the political changes in 1991, Spahiu emigrated to France, where she began studying French language and literature. Her dedication to knowledge and passion for literature led her to pursue higher education in Strasbourg. In 1995, after completing her baccalaureate at the Lycée International des Pontonniers, she enrolled at the Marc Bloch University to study literature. In 2000, she completed her Master’s degree with a thesis entitled “Two Epic-Fantastic Visions of the Fall: Kadare and Julien Gracq.”
In 2004, Spahiu defended her doctoral dissertation at the Sorbonne in Paris under the supervision of Pierre Brunel, a renowned specialist in myths and comparative literature, and Alexandre Zotos, a translator and scholar of Ismail Kadare’s work. Her dissertation, entitled “From Orality to the Novel: Kadare, Homer, and Prosper Mérimée,” explored the intersection of oral tradition and modern literature, drawing parallels between Kadare’s work and those of Homer and Mérimée. It was the first doctoral thesis dedicated to Kadare’s work in France, earning her significant academic recognition on an international scale.
Career
[edit]In 2006, Spahiu returned to Tirana, where she became a literature professor at the Faculty of French Language. The following year, she taught at the European University of Tetovo in North Macedonia, focusing on communication studies. She later returned to France for personal reasons and took up a position as a lecturer at the University of Paris 12.
In 2019, she visited her birthplace in Albania for the first time, accompanied by artist-photographer Halida Boughriet. This visit inspired an exhibition at the Benetton Foundation in Treviso, shedding light on the still-unknown reality of concentration camps in Albania under Enver Hoxha’s autocratic regime.
Spahiu is a professor in Paris, where she teaches literature. Through her academic work and translations, she promotes Albanian literature and its integration into the European and global literary landscape.
Literary criticism and translations
[edit]Since defending her doctoral thesis, Spahiu has established herself as a leading specialist in Ismail Kadare’s work. She has participated in international conferences and colloquia since 2004, presenting in-depth analyses on Kadare’s creativity and its connections to folklore, mythology, and the post-Soviet context.
In collaboration with the Onufri publishing house, Spahiu published a significant study on Kadare, accompanied by an exclusive interview with the author. This unique approach makes her study a key reference for scholars and readers seeking to delve deeper into Kadare’s creative universe.
Spahiu has translated literary works, including Frosina of Janina and Porfida by Albanian author Mira Meksi. Her translations serve as bridges between Albanian literature and international readers, enriching cultural communication.
Research focus
[edit]Spahiu’s academic work spans several major themes:
- Folklore and oral tradition in literature: Examining how Albanian literature, particularly Kadare’s works, is deeply rooted in oral traditions and cultural heritage.
- Myths and symbolism: Analyzing the role of myths as a foundation for Kadare’s narratives and their relevance in a modern context.
- Post-Soviet literature: Investigating the impact of the communist and post-communist periods on literary production, connecting this context with global contemporary literature.
- The effects of isolation: Exploring how political and social isolation shapes literary expression and forms of communication in Albanian culture.