The Pyramid (Kadare novel)

For the 1967 novel by William Golding, see The Pyramid (Golding novel). For the 1989 novel by Terry Pratchett, see Pyramids (novel).

The Pyramid

First edition (Albanian)
Author	Ismail Kadare
Translator	Jusuf Vrioni & David Bellos
Language	Albanian
Genre	Novel, Fiction
Published	1992
Publisher	Çabej (Albania) Arcade Publishing (USA) Harvill Press (UK)
Publication place	Albania
Published in English	1 February 1996
Media type	Print (Hardback & Paperback)
Pages	224 p. (hardback edition)
ISBN	1-55970-314-8 (US hardback edition) & ISBN   1-86046-123-9 (UK hardback edition)
OCLC	32429764
Dewey Decimal	891/.9913 20
LC Class	PG9621.K3 P5813 1996

The Pyramid (Albanian : Piramida) is a 1992 novel written by Ismail Kadare. It is considered to serve both literary and dissident purposes. ^[1] It is a political allegory of absolute political power.

Background

The first part of the novel was written in 1988-1990 but was rejected by the state publisher. ^[2] It was serialized in January 1991 in several issues of the new opposition newspaper Democratic Renaissance . ^[3] After the establishment of pluralism and democracy in Albania, it was completed and published in Tirana and Paris. ^[2]

Plot

The Pyramid is a political allegory set in ancient Egypt. It is the tale of the conception and construction of the Great Pyramid of Giza by Cheops, but also of absolute political power. ^[3]

Reception

The New York Times picked up on the significance of The Pyramid:

"For the pyramid, viewed by his subjects as an abiding symbol of his total and incontestable power, comes to be seen by him as a personal memento mori, a constant and paralyzing reminder that his brief life will give way to an eternal entombment in stone." ^[4]

In 1993, the novel was awarded the Prix Méditerranée Étranger in France. ^[5]

See also

• Albanian literature
• Communist Albania
• Ismail Kadare

References

1. Review 04/01/1996
2. Fayé, Eric (1993). Kadaré, Ismail (ed.). Oeuvres completes: tome 1. Editions Fayard. pp. 80–82.
3. Robert Elsie (2005). Albanian Literature: A Short History. IBTaurus. p. 178. ISBN   1-84511-031-5.
4. Bawer, Bruce (28 April 1996). "Land of the Pharaoh: New York Times". The New York Times. Retrieved 23 May 2006.
5. Nicole Gaspon (14 April 1993). "ISMAÏL KADARÉ COURONNÉ POUR «LA PYRAMIDE»". L'humanity. Retrieved 21 October 2019.