Book description
From the moment that Gjorg's brother is killed by a neighbour, his
own life is forfeit: for the code of Kanun requires Gjorg to kill his
brother's murderer and then in turn be hunted down. After shooting his
brother's killer, young Gjorg is entitled to thirty days' grace - not
enough to see out the month of April.
Then a visiting honeymoon couple cross the path of the fugitive. The
bride's heart goes out to Gjorg, and even these 'civilised' strangers
from the city risk becoming embroiled in the fatal mechanism of vendetta.
Ismail Kadare, born in 1936 in the mountain town of Gjirokaster, near
the Greek border, is Albania's best-known poet and novelist. Since the
appearance of
The General of the Dead Army
in 1965, Kadare has published scores of stories and novels that make up
a panorama of Albanian history linked by a constant meditation on the
nature and human consequences of dictatorship. His works brought him
into frequent conflict with the authorities from 1945 to 1985. In 1990
he sought political asylum in France, and now divides his time between
Paris and Tirana. He is the winner of the first ever Man Booker
International Prize.
