of the 20th and 21st centuries. Ridvan Dibra is a leading figure of contemporary Albanian literature, and author of several innovative works. He has been rewarded with several national and international prizes, including the Rexhai Surroi Prize for the best Albanian novel of the year 2012, for his novel, "Legjenda e vetmisë" (The Legend of Solitude). He has been called as one of the five greatest living Albanian writers. Luljeta Lleshanaku is one of the most important and most acclaimed Albanian poets today. She's the author of seven volumes of poetry, a couple of which have been translated in various languages. English translations include: "Fresco" (2002), "Child of Nature"(2010), "Haywire: New and Selected Poems" (2011) and "Negative Space"(2018), the translation of which by Ani Gjika has been shortlisted for the 2019 Griffin Poetry Prize. She received the 2009 Crystal Vilenica Award for European poets. Fatos Kongoli, born in 1944 in Elbasan, is considered to be one of the most "forceful and convincing" representatives of contemporary Albanian literature. During the Stalinist dictatorship in Albania he did not write or publish any important works. He came to prominence after the regime fell, with his novel The Loser (1992). His novels deal with the years of the Hoxha regime and the aftermath, as Albanian society transitions into a democracy without being able to shake off the demons of the past. Other important writers include Ben Blushi, whose debut novel Living on an Island (2008), dealing with the Islamization of Albanians, went on to become a best-selling book after the fall of Communism in Albania. His second novel, Otello, the Moor of Vlora (2009), was awarded the European Union Prize for Literature. His later novels went on to become national bestsellers. See also Culture of Albania Albanian language National Library of Albania Albanians & Arbëreshë Notes Antologjia e letërsisë shqiptare 1", Shtëpia Botuese e Librit Shkollor, Tirana, 1996 "Historia e letërsisë shqipe I, II", Instituti i Historisë e i Gjuhësisë i Universitetit të Tiranës, Tirana, 1960. "Historia e letërsisë shqiptare", Akademia e Shkencave, Tirana, 1983 Eqrem Çabej, "Shqiptarët midis Perëndimit dhe Lindjes", Tirana, 1994 Jorgo Bulo, "Letërsia shqiptare" – shqiperia.com References Literature External links AlbanianLiterature.net European literature