Borders, books, and the Balkans: a conversation with Gazmend Kapllani
Sat, Nov 30
|Toronto
A Literary Encounter with Gazmend Kapllani: Exploring Migration, Identity, and the sense of Belonging.
Time & Location
Nov 30, 2024, 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. EST
Toronto, 76 Wychwood Ave, Toronto, ON M6G 2X7, Canada
About the event
Gazmend Kapllani, an Albanian-born author, journalist, and scholar, has built a remarkable body of work exploring migration, identity, borders, and totalitarianism, with a keen focus on how Balkan history shapes collective and personal narratives. Since immigrating to Greece in 1991, he has emerged as a significant voice in Greek journalism, advocating for the rights of migrants and minorities. His first novel, A Short Border Handbook, translated into several languages, is now studied in universities throughout Europe, North America, and beyond. Currently, Kapllani leads the Department of Albanian Studies at DePaul University, where he continues to explore these themes through both his teaching and his writing.His latest novel, Wrongland, released on September 16, 2024, follows Karl, an expatriate returning to his Albanian hometown of Ters after 27 years, prompted by his father's passing. The novel explores exile, the complexities of homecoming, and the layered impact of history on a place and…