- Girolamo de Rada
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Girolamo de Rada
Geronimo de Rada in a 19th century sketchBorn 1814
San Demetrio Corone, ItalyDied 1903 (aged 89) Occupation Teacher, Publisher, Nationality Italian Ethnicity Arbëreshë Period 1844–1900 Literary movement Albanian National Revival Girolamo de Rada (Arbëresh: Jeronim de Rada) (1814 - 1903) was an Italian writer of Italo-Albanian literature.[1] Of Arbëreshë descent he was the foremost figure of the Albanian National Awakening in 19th Italy.
Biography
Born the son of a parish priest of Italo-Albanian Catholic Church in Macchia Albanese in the mountains of Cosenza, De Rada attended the college of Saint Adrian in San Demetrio Corone. Already imbued with a passion for his Albanian lineage, he began collecting folklore material at an early age. In October 1834, in accordance with his father's wishes, he registered at the Faculty of Law of the University of Naples, but the main focus of his interests remained folklore and literature. It was in Naples in 1836 that De Rada published the first edition of his best known Albanian-language poem, the "Songs of Milosao", under the Italian title Poesie albanesi del secolo XV. Canti di Milosao, figlio del despota di Scutari (Albanian poetry from the 15th century. Songs of Milosao, son of the despot of Shkodra). He was soon forced to abandon his studies due to a cholera epidemic in Naples and returned home to Calabria. His second work, Canti storici albanesi di Serafina Thopia, moglie del principe Nicola Ducagino, Naples 1839 (Albanian historical songs of Serafina Thopia, wife of prince Nicholas Dukagjini), was seized by the Bourbon authorities because of De Rada's alleged affiliation with conspiratorial groups during the Italian Risorgimento. The work was republished under the title Canti di Serafina Thopia, principessa di Zadrina nel secolo XV, Naples 1843 (Songs of Serafina Thopia, princess of Zadrina in the 15th century) and in later years in a third version as Specchio di umano transito, vita di Serafina Thopia, Principessa di Ducagino, Naples 1897 (Mirror of human transience, life of Serafina Thopia, princess of Dukagjin). His Italian-language historical tragedy I Numidi, Naples 1846 (The Numidians), elaborated half a century later as Sofonisba, dramma storico, Naples 1892 (Sofonisba, historical drama), enjoyed only modest public response. In the revolutionary year 1848, De Rada founded the newspaper L'Albanese d'Italia (The Albanian of Italy) which included articles in Albanian. This bilingual "political, moral and literary journal" with a final circulation of 3,200 copies was the first Albanian-language periodical anywhere.
Before Albania had become a political entity, it was already a poetic reality in the works of Girolamo De Rada. His vision of an independent Albania grew in the second half of the nineteenth century from a simple desire to a realistic political objective to which he was passionately committed.
De Rada was the harbinger and first audible voice of the Romantic movement in Albanian literature, a movement which, inspired by his unfailing energy on behalf of national awakening among Albanians in Italy and in the Balkans, was to evolve into the romantic nationalism characteristic of the Rilindja period in Albania. His journalistic, literary and political activities were instrumental not only in fostering an awareness for the Arbëresh minority in Italy but also in laying the foundations for an Albanian national literature.
The most popular of his literary works is the above-mentioned Canti di Milosao (Songs of Milosao), known in Albanian as Këngët e Milosaos, a long romantic ballad portraying the love of Milosao, a fictitious young nobleman in fifteenth-century Shkodra (Scutari), who has returned home from Thessalonica. Here, at the village fountain, he encounters and falls in love with Rina, the daughter of the shepherd Kollogre. The difference in social standing between the lovers long impedes their union until an earthquake destroys both the city and all semblance of class distinction. After their marriage abroad, a child is born. But the period of marital bliss does not last long. Milosao's son and wife soon die, and he himself, wounded in battle, perishes on a riverbank within sight of Shkodra.
De Rada also published the magazine Fiamuri Arbërit, whose first issue appeared on July 20, 1883 in Cosenza, Italy initially in Albanian in a Latin-based alphabet invented by de Rada, and later with translations in Italian. The journal featured subjects regarding Albanian literature, politics and history quickly became popular among Albanians and was widely distributed.[2]
See also
References
- ^ English translation of poem may be found in the article Jeronim DE RADA - POETRY
- ^ Pynsent, Robert (1993). Reader's encyclopedia of Eastern European literature. HarperCollins. p. 84. ISBN 0062700073. http://books.google.com/books?id=Z4kYAAAAIAAJ&q=Fiamuri+Arberit&dq=Fiamuri+Arberit&hl=en&ei=iV9YTMniBIOqsQbF_syUCg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=8&ved=0CEMQ6AEwBzgU.
Notable Albanian authors Early authors Constantine of Berat - Pjetër Bogdani - Pjetër Budi - Gjon Buzuku - Nikollë Keta - Yahya Dukagjini - Nezim Frakulla - Hasan Zyko Kamberi - Lekë Matrënga - Mesihi - Sulejman Naibi - Zef Serembe - Jul Variboba - Muçi ZadeClassical authors Asdreni - Andon Zako Çajupi - Jeronim De Rada - Gjergj Fishta - Naim Frashëri - Ernest Koliqi - Faik Konica - Mitrush Kuteli - Sejfulla Malëshova - Esad Mekuli - Migjeni - Ndre Mjeda - Fan Noli - Lasgush Poradeci - Filip Shiroka - Sterjo Spasse - Pashko Vasa - Mehmet Akif ErsoyModern Ismail Kadare - Dritëro Agolli - Fatos Kongoli - Teodor Keko - Dhimitër Shuteriqi - Llazar Siliqi - Dhimitër Xhuvani - Fadil Paçrami - Gaqo Bushaka - Nasho Jorgaqi - Bedri Dedja - Thanas Qerama - Betim Muço - Kiço Blushi - Ben Blushi - Ervin Hatibi - Martin Camaj - Kasëm Trebeshina - Fatos Arapi - Lindita Arapi - Teodor Laço - Bardhyl Londo - Besnik Mustafaj - Preç Zogaj - Xhevahir Spahiu - Visar Zhiti - Moikom Zeqo - Ali Podrimja - Azem ShkreliCategories:- 1814 births
- 1903 deaths
- Albanian writers
- Activists of the Rilindja Kombëtare
- Italian people of Albanian descent
- 19th-century Albanian people
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