Frederik Rreshpja, lyric poet, essayist, publicist and publisher, passed away in Shkodër. His pen is among the most representative of the Albanian verse. He was born in Shkodër, in 1940 , in a family originating from Dukagjini. In his hometown, he completed his primary and secondary education at the “29 Nëntori” gymnasium. He pursued his university studies at the Faculty of Education in Tirana, by correspondence. In 1967, his first literary work was published, the poetry collection “Rapsodi shqiptare” (“Albanian rhapsodies”). In 1975, his work was removed from circulation by order of a circular of the Ministry of Education and Culture signed by Deputy Minister Mantho Bala. Arrested and sentenced “as a person who represents social danger and who aims at undermining, weakening and subverting people’s power”. Frederik Rreshpja was imprisoned and served 17 years in prison. After he got out of prison, he published the volumes “Erdhi ora të vdes përsëri” (“It’s time to die again”) (1994), “Lirika të zgjedhura” (“Selected Lyrics”) (1996), as well as the volume of poems “Në vetmi” (“Alone”) which was published in 2004 and with which he received the title “Poet of 2004”. Frederik Rreshpja was also the editor-in-chief of the newspaper “Ora”, head of a printing house and owner of the publishing house “Evropa”. He is included in the volume “History of Albanian literature” by Robert Elsie (2003). He was buried in the catholic cemetery “Rrëmaj” in Shkodra. (In the photo: Frederik Rreshpja)
Text: National Museum “House with Leaves”, Tirana.
Photo: © https://www.teksteshqip.com/frederik-rreshpja/biografia
Graphic processing: AHCF
