The Fall of the Stone City | Ismail Kadare
Enigmatic and compelling, The Fall of the Stone City shows Ismail Kadare at the height of his powers. It was shortlisted for the Independent Foreign Fiction Prize. In September 1943, German soldiers advance on the ancient gates of Gjirokaster, Albania. It is the first step in a carefully planned invasion. But once at the mouth of the city, the troops are taken aback by a surprising act of rebellion that leaves the citizens fearful of a bloody counter-attack. Soon rumours circulate, in cafes, houses and alleyways, that the Nazi Colonel in command of the German Army was once a school acquaintance of a local dignitary, Doctor Gurameto. In the town square, Colonel von Schwabe greets his former classmate warmly; in return, Doctor Gurameto invites him to dinner. The very next day, the Colonel and his army disappear from the city. The dinner at Gurameto's house changes the course of events in twentieth-century Europe. But as the citizens celebrate their hero, a conspiracy surfaces which leads some to place Gurameto, and the stone city, at the heart of a plot to undermine Socialism. Ismail Kadare is Albania's best-known poet and novelist. Translations of his novels, which include The Siege, The Successor, Chronicle in Stone and The Accident, have been published in more than forty countries. In 2005 he became the first winner of the Man Booker International Prize. textpublishing.com.au 'One of the most important voices in literature today.' Metro 'One of the world's greatest living writers.' Simon Sebag Montefiore 'There are very few writers alive today with the depth, power and resonance of this remarkable novelist.' Herald 'The Fall of the Stone City is a Kafkaesque nightmare, an incredibly powerful tale of historical drama and human tragedy. Lovers of great literature should feast on a book like this, devouring the story and despairing when there are simply no more pages to turn.' Weekend Bookworm, ABC Radio Brisbane 'European grand master Ismail Kadare, that wizard of the sinister, beguiles with yet another dark fable...this epic novella packs a huge - both hugely entertaining and thought-provoking - punch.' Sunday Star Times
The Fall of the Stone City | 
