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Bardha e Temalit
268 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1890
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
October 26, 2021
This first Albanian Roman is the story of the harsh social norms of the Albanians during the late 19th century under the backwater that was the Ottoman Empire.
Two young northerners that fall in love at first sight but never having expressed their love in first person, struggle to see each other more, impossibly, for else they must pay with their lives.
Arad, the son of a well respected christian family in the muslim majority Shkodra and Bardha, an ancient greek goddess that by an arranged marriage has to go live atop the accursed mountains of the highlanders who fear naught but dishonor. They meet during a few days and by not speaking more than a handful of words to each other, they let their feelings tell it all.
A story of diversity in a multicultural but homogenous hub,
Pashko Vasa, surprisingly a feminist, centuries ahead of his time, painfully tells it all. Homesick and in love for his nation, a book of three rivers, tight streets of cobblestone, shield maidens and blood-feuds.
Two young northerners that fall in love at first sight but never having expressed their love in first person, struggle to see each other more, impossibly, for else they must pay with their lives.
Arad, the son of a well respected christian family in the muslim majority Shkodra and Bardha, an ancient greek goddess that by an arranged marriage has to go live atop the accursed mountains of the highlanders who fear naught but dishonor. They meet during a few days and by not speaking more than a handful of words to each other, they let their feelings tell it all.
A story of diversity in a multicultural but homogenous hub,
Pashko Vasa, surprisingly a feminist, centuries ahead of his time, painfully tells it all. Homesick and in love for his nation, a book of three rivers, tight streets of cobblestone, shield maidens and blood-feuds.
October 9, 2024
[3.5]
- first learned of this book in high school, as it is the first Albanian novel (published in French in Paris, but the first Albanian novel nonetheless as it first depicted Albanians in Albania);
- DNF when first read it;
- wasn’t too impressed on a second read, but managed to finish it
- Bardha and Arad didn’t love each other… let’s call it for what it is, infatuation. they only saw each other like twice. very typical Romantic love
- Bardha’s end did make me sad, thus increasing my rating
- they don’t make friends like Anul anymore, who incidentally was also my favorite character (he was the only one thinking logically)
- would have loved to read something more about Luli. he was presented merely as your run-of-the-mill Albanian husband, a product of his times. what pushed him to marry Bardha, a woman so far removed from his world? the novel asks the same question, however I would have liked to have an answer, as there seemed to be something else beyond the heartless savage in Luli of Temal.
- some parts of Albanian culture I don’t agree with were presented in a positive light, the author trying to show the Western world I assume something about us during that period. however, he picked the Kanun as one of our advancements, which is a view I do not agree with even for the time period — the Ottoman pashas establish Ottoman law, the Albanians do not like it because they have the Kanun which enables them to kill to their hearts’ content… this book was published in the 19th century and the events are taking place in 1842 (according to Wikipedia), not the Middle Ages
- first learned of this book in high school, as it is the first Albanian novel (published in French in Paris, but the first Albanian novel nonetheless as it first depicted Albanians in Albania);
- DNF when first read it;
- wasn’t too impressed on a second read, but managed to finish it
- Bardha and Arad didn’t love each other… let’s call it for what it is, infatuation. they only saw each other like twice. very typical Romantic love
- Bardha’s end did make me sad, thus increasing my rating
- they don’t make friends like Anul anymore, who incidentally was also my favorite character (he was the only one thinking logically)
- would have loved to read something more about Luli. he was presented merely as your run-of-the-mill Albanian husband, a product of his times. what pushed him to marry Bardha, a woman so far removed from his world? the novel asks the same question, however I would have liked to have an answer, as there seemed to be something else beyond the heartless savage in Luli of Temal.
- some parts of Albanian culture I don’t agree with were presented in a positive light, the author trying to show the Western world I assume something about us during that period. however, he picked the Kanun as one of our advancements, which is a view I do not agree with even for the time period — the Ottoman pashas establish Ottoman law, the Albanians do not like it because they have the Kanun which enables them to kill to their hearts’ content… this book was published in the 19th century and the events are taking place in 1842 (according to Wikipedia), not the Middle Ages
November 17, 2022
5 yje te plota!
Para se ta lexoja kete liber nuk kisha ndonje pritshmeri te madhe rreth tij, per me teper qe as nuk e dija cfare tematikash trajtonte.
Mund te them me plot bindje qe dashuria midis Bardhes dhe Aradit ishte kaq e bukur per te lexuar e perjetuar, aq sa nuk e di nese kam lexuar nje histori te tille ne vepra te tjera shqiptare deri me tani. E nderthurur me traditat dhe zakonet shqiptare te diktuara nga kanuni dhe ndikimi i tyre ne jeten e te gjithe personazheve ishte kaq magjepsese per t’u lexuar. Plus fakti qe eshte shkruar ne nje gjuhe te huaj per nje audience te huaj jam e lumtur qe Pashko Vasa ka arritur te portretizoje kaq bukur realitetin shqiptar. Gjithashtu shqiperimi ishte shume i paster dhe i sakte, e shtonte ne eksperiencen e te lexuarit.
Para se ta lexoja kete liber nuk kisha ndonje pritshmeri te madhe rreth tij, per me teper qe as nuk e dija cfare tematikash trajtonte.
Mund te them me plot bindje qe dashuria midis Bardhes dhe Aradit ishte kaq e bukur per te lexuar e perjetuar, aq sa nuk e di nese kam lexuar nje histori te tille ne vepra te tjera shqiptare deri me tani. E nderthurur me traditat dhe zakonet shqiptare te diktuara nga kanuni dhe ndikimi i tyre ne jeten e te gjithe personazheve ishte kaq magjepsese per t’u lexuar. Plus fakti qe eshte shkruar ne nje gjuhe te huaj per nje audience te huaj jam e lumtur qe Pashko Vasa ka arritur te portretizoje kaq bukur realitetin shqiptar. Gjithashtu shqiperimi ishte shume i paster dhe i sakte, e shtonte ne eksperiencen e te lexuarit.
November 19, 2012
I like this booj very much
July 2, 2025
🌟🌟🌟🌟 A Beautiful Story That Broke My Heart
Throughout the poem, Bardha's love and innocence shine, and the narrative flows with a sense of hope, despite the surrounding tension and strict traditions. The pacing is gentle but steadily builds toward a powerful conclusion.
What truly elevates this work is its shocking and heartbreaking ending. Just when the reader is led to believe in a possible resolution or escape from fate, the story turns tragically, and Bardha’s life is cruelly cut short. This final twist hits hard — not just emotionally, but morally, raising questions about honor, tradition, and sacrifice.
It’s not a perfect read — a few parts dragged a bit — but the emotional payoff and the way it sticks with you long after you finish is powerful.
This story is like a beautiful song with a heartbreaking final note.
Throughout the poem, Bardha's love and innocence shine, and the narrative flows with a sense of hope, despite the surrounding tension and strict traditions. The pacing is gentle but steadily builds toward a powerful conclusion.
What truly elevates this work is its shocking and heartbreaking ending. Just when the reader is led to believe in a possible resolution or escape from fate, the story turns tragically, and Bardha’s life is cruelly cut short. This final twist hits hard — not just emotionally, but morally, raising questions about honor, tradition, and sacrifice.
It’s not a perfect read — a few parts dragged a bit — but the emotional payoff and the way it sticks with you long after you finish is powerful.
This story is like a beautiful song with a heartbreaking final note.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 4, 2020
Ka dicka te veqant edhe pse me disa te kqia, besa e shqiptareve fjala e dhene e mbajtur qe ne kete kohe fatkeqsisht shume pak eshte prezente.. e shijova deri ne fund edhe pse me merziti fundi po prap eshte mire te lexosh ksi lloj librash!!
May 16, 2019
A GREAT BOOK!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 2, 2019
Kryeveper shqipe!
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February 28, 2020Good
January 18, 2023
Nuhas hiperbolë, gjithsesi mund të them që ishte një vepër e mrekullueshme arti që më lotoi sytë.
October 21, 2024
Nje nga librat qe nuk do harroj kurre. E kam lexuar 3 here, heren e pare isha 14 vjeçe.
May 12, 2025
O ALLAH JWBSGANSVANSGSNSVSYSJAVAG AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA INSANITY
December 10, 2025
Pashko Vasa I will always love you
January 10, 2026
Dashuria imeee do qajjj :/ Peak writing, peak storyline kaq kisha!!!
September 22, 2016
For schoool
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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October 23, 2016i love it
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July 10, 2017i think this book is a good book l like it ;-)
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews