Naim Frashëri

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Naim Frashëri (May 25, 1846 – October 20, 1900) was an Ottoman-born ethnic Albanian romantic poet and, together with his brothers Sami and Abdyl, a prominent figure of the Rilindja Kombëtare (the national renaissance of Albania).

His father was an impoverished bey from Frashër, in the District of Përmet. Naim studied at the "Zosimea" Greek language high school in Ioannina. Hailing from a family with long connections to the Bektashi Sufi order, Naim became an Ottoman official in Sarandë, Berat, and Ioannina. In 1882, Frashëri was the head of the censorship department in Istanbul.

He took part in the Albanian people's freedom movement, and often had to sign his writings using his initials, as otherwise he would have placed himself in danger in front of Ottoman officials. His works had to be smuggled into Albania.

Early on, he started writing poetry. The very first pieces Frashëri wrote were in Persian. In all, he authored twenty-two major works: four in Turkish, one in Persian, two in Greek and fifteen in Albanian. The patriotic poems and highly popular lyric poetry, were at first strongly influenced by Persian literature, and later also French poetry. He also translated several fables of Jean de la Fontaine.

Naim Frashëri's poem Herds and Tillage depicts the activities of the shepherd and the tiller, alongside his personal reflections on the beauty of Albanian landscapes and expressions of longing after his homeland. The epic poem Skanderbeg's Story retells the life of national hero Gjergj Kastriot Skanderbeg, while intertwining it with imaginary episodes.

He also translated Homer's Iliad, and wrote articles on didactics and Islamic practice.

Frashëri died in Kızıltoprak, Kadıköy, in present-day Turkey.

Through all of his writings, Frashëri exerted a strong influenced on the later Albanian literature and society. The independent Albanian state created an order of merit that bears his name, awarded to, amongst others, Mother Teresa; a publishing house in Tirana was named Naim Frashëri.

[edit] Works

Bagëti e bujqësi (Herds and Tillage; Bucharest 1886): a patriotic lyrical poem
O alithis pothos ton skipetaron (The True Desire of the Albanians; 1886): a patriotic poem in Greek
Vjersha (Verses; 1886): a collection of poetry
Lulet e verës (Summer Flowers; 1890): a collection of poetry
Mësimet (Teachings; 1894): didactic pieces
Parajsa dhe fjala fluturake (The Paradise and Flying Words)
Histori' e Skënderbeut (Skanderbeg’s Story, 1898): his main work, an epic poem
Qerbeleja (Karbala, 1898): a poem about the creation of the world according to Islam, and the Battle of Karbala
Fjalët e qiririt (The Words of the Candle)
Gjuha jonë (Our Language)
O Eros (O Love) another Greek poem
Shqipëri, o jetëgjatë (Albania, to a Long Life)
Tehajylat (The Dream; 1885) a poem in Persian
Ti, Shqipëri, më jep nder! (You, Albania, Give Me Honor)
Tradhëtorëtë (Traitors)
Ujku dhe qengji (The Wolf and the Sheep)
Xhelali dhe Bektashi (Xhelal and Bektash)