The Albanian writer was awarded the National Order ‘ Grand Officer of Legion of Honor’ on January 31 by a special decree of the President of France, Emmanuel Macron.
French state was the first promoter of the Albanian writer in the international arena, starting in 1970, when Kadare published in French the novel “The General of the Dead Army”.
Ismail Kadare has been honored with almost all prestigious world awards, with the exception of Nobel Prize, in which he has run alongside the great names of world literature for 40 years. In 1992, just one year after the fall of communism in Albania, Kadare was awarded the Cino del Duca World Award.
In 2005, he became the winner of the first Man Booker Price International.
In 2009, Kadare won the Prince Asturias Award, one of the most prestigious international literary awards.
Years later, other international awards for the Albanian writer followed, where only during 2019 Ismail Kadare was honored with two prestigious awards, the 2019 Pak Kyongni Award in South Korea and the American Nobel Prize.
Ismail Kadare is a name that conveys national vision and character in his works, all over the world.Its main themes are the history of the Balkans and Albania and the denunciation of totalitarianism through expressive metaphors and ancient legends. In Kadare’s works there is a review of major historical stages, where French critics praise his appealing style, inspiration from the themes of great literary classics such as Homer, Aeschylus, Dante Alighieri, Shakespeare, etc.
In France, Ismail Kadare has been an associate member of the Academy of Moral and Political Science since 1996, replacing the famous philosopher Karl Popper. Afterwards, he was honored by France step by step with all the honorary titles until he reached the pinnacle on this threshold of New Year’s Day, being honored with the highest title of Great Honorary Officer.
