The File on H. is a novel featuring two young Irish academic scholars who are studying oral, epic poetry - such as Homer's Illiad and Odyssey - in the United States in the 1930s. It comes to their attention that, while this style of poetry - thousands of lines long and typically composed only aloud - is a dying art, there is one place on Earth where these poets, or 'rhapsodes' still exist: in the remote foothills of #Albania. Armed with brand new technology - a tape recorder - the two set off across the ocean to study in a small village in Albania.
Meanwhile, in Albania, word of the arrival of these two foreigners makes its way through the village. As the connection between the historic Homer and this small town in Albania seems like an extreme stretch, and because tape recording technology seems so mysterious and futuristic, suspicions arise. Many in the local government believe these two men are spies who have been sent to investigate the area. As a result, the local government assigns "counter spies" to follow the academics.
This was a fun, quick read that brought us skillfully to a small Albanian town and to the area around the mountains of the region. It taught me about poetry in a way I had not been exposed to before, and it kept me giggling at the comedy of errors that worked its way through this novel that managed to also be a spy-themed page turner. I really enjoyed it and would highly recommend it!
Which brings me to how to get it. Prior to taking up this project of reading my way through the countries of Europe, I realize that I took for granted my perceived access to literature from any region in the world, translated into English. I am learning that this is a much more challenging part of the adventure than I had initially assumed! Ismail Kadare is considered by many to be Albania's best-known poet and novelist. Even so, this was not an easy book to find. It was not available as an e-book, and so I searched several popular and more obscure online shops and gratefully, finally found an English copy on eBay, which ultimately took several weeks to arrive. Now, maybe this project would be easier outside of a pandemic, but for now, it has made me appreciate so much when I find such a book after a bit of a hunt.
This challenge has me that much more committed to this project, and in particular of reading novels from each country. I've realized that the "bad news" about a region is relatively easy to find and read. Headlines about wars, attacks, and brutality are important, indeed, but novels and art are how we will actually get to know the beauty and heart of a nation and its people. If all we are reading about a country are headlines and news stories about military conflicts, it is easy to feel disconnected from them, and to hurt less when they are hurting.
I'm starting to understand the importance of art and literature in a way I never have before.