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Faruk Myrtaj

Poet, Writer and Journalist

Faruk Myrtaj was born in Selenicë, Vlorë, where he completed high school in 1974. Until 1983, he worked in the mines, after which he graduated as a mining engineer (surveyor) from the University of Tirana in 1988. In November 1989, he began his career as a journalist at "Zëri i Rinisë" and later contributed to several other newspapers, including "Alternativa SD," "Rilindja Demokratike," "Republika," and "Albania." During 1992-1993, he served as deputy director of the Albanian Telegraphic Agency.

From 1995 to 1997, Myrtaj was a press spokesperson and cabinet chief at the Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sports, and later, from 1997 to 2003, worked at the Book Distribution Agency. On November 3, 2003, he emigrated to Canada with his family.

In 2004, Myrtaj became a member of The Writers' Union of Canada and PEN Canada. In Canada, he has published short stories and essays in online literary media, including translations by Arben Kallamata and Aida Dismondy, and has written notes on Canadian authors' books. His essay “How I Discovered Canada through Translation” was included in the anthology Speaking in Tongue, published by PEN Canada and BANFF Center in 2005. He is also featured in the short story anthology Lost in Translation, prepared by PEN Canada.



Publications


Poetry:

  1. Dielli i nëntokës (The Sun of the Underground), 1985, Publishing House "Naim Frashëri", Tirana.

  2. Rroba e fjalëve gjithnjë ngushtë më rri (The Clothes of Words Always Fit Me Tight), 1991, "Naim Frashëri", Tirana.

Short Stories:

  1. Njerëz që kam njohur (People I Have Known), 1987, "Naim Frashëri", Tirana.

  2. Marrëveshje për të jetuar (An Agreement to Live), 1989, "Naim Frashëri", Tirana.

  3. Nudo Zyrtare (Official Nude), 1996, "AQTLASH", Tirana, republished in 2006 by "Vatra", Skopje.

  4. Njerëzit janë tepër (People Are Too Many), 2000, "Vatra", Skopje, Macedonia.

  5. Luftëtarët vriten në paqe (Warriors Are Killed in Peace), 2003, "Rozafa", Prishtina, Kosovo.

  6. Hijet e Virgjëreshave (The Shadows of Virgins), 2006, "Arbëria", Tirana.

  7. Dritat e Italisë (The Lights of Italy), 2009, "Ide-art", Tirana.

  8. Ndershmëria Vetëm (Only Honesty), 2016, "Milosao", Saranda.

  9. Këpucë për Gjyqin e Fundit (Shoes for the Final Judgment), 2018, "UEGEN", Tirana.

  10. Përkthyesi i Klasikëve (The Translator of the Classics), 2021, "UEGEN", Tirana.

  11. Për shkak të Heminguejt (Because of Hemingway), 2024, "UEGEN", Tirana.

Novels:

  1. Qyteti i Ministrave (The City of Ministers), 1998, "Toena", Tirana.

  2. Atdhe Tjetër (Another Homeland), 2012, "Milosao", Saranda.

  3. Orë të Franc Kafkës (Hours of Franz Kafka), 2019, "UEGEN", Tirana.

Essays:

  1. Përse druhemi nga nacionalizmi (Why We Fear Nationalism), 1995, "Dardania", Tirana.

  2. Markezë shqiptarë (Albanian Marquises), 2002, "UEGEN", Tirana.

Award: Nudo Zyrtare (Official Nude) was awarded “Best Book of Short Stories for 1996” by the Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sports, Tirana.

Translations (from English):

  1. Toleranca, pragu i Paqes (Tolerance, the Threshold of Peace), Betty Reardon, "Apollonia", 1999, Tirana.

  2. Pushteti i G.G. Marquez (The Power of G.G. Marquez), Jon Lee Anderson, "OMSKA1", 2001, Tirana.

  3. Tregime dhe novela të zgjedhura (Selected Stories and Novels), William Saroyan, "UEGEN", 2002, Tirana.

  4. Stina e Mallit (No Great Mischief), novel by Alistair MacLeod, 2003, "Albin", Tirana.

  5. Harpa e barit (The Grass Harp), novel by Truman Capote, 2003, "Ideart", Tirana.

  6. Pushteti i Mitit (The Power of Myth), Joseph Campbell, Bill Moyers, 2017, "Milosao", Penguin Random House.

  7. Fuqia e Mitit (The Power of Myth), Joseph Campbell, reprinted by Botimet Koliqi, 2022, Prishtina.

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