If I Were a Boy: Sikur t'isha djalë

by Haki Stërmilli, Lyra Goga (Translator)

156 pages, Paperback

Published June 5, 2025

About the author

Haki Stërmilli was an Albanian writer and journalist. His works dealt mostly with issues related to the rights of the Albanian communities outside Albania, republicanism, emancipation of women and feminism. His best-known work is the novel Sikur të isha djalë(If I were a boy). Stërmilli finished his first studies in Bitola. In 1920 along with Avni Rustemi he became one of the founders and the secretary of the youth organization, Bashkimi. An antimonarchist and supporter of Fan Noli he took part in the revolt that overthrew the monarchy, but after its restoration in late 1924 he was exiled. In 1930 he was captured by the Yugoslav authorities and evicted to Albania, where he was sentenced to prison for his antimonarchist activities. During World War II he joined the National Liberation Movement (LNÇ) and became head of the organization in the Dibër District. After the war he was elected a deputy of the Albanian parliament and also served as head of the National Library of Albania until his death in 1953. Stërmilli's first works include the novel The Unfortunate Dibrane (Albanian: Dibranja e mjerueshme) and Love and Loyalty (Albanian: Dashuni e Besnikëri), which describe the persecution of the Albanian community of his home region Debar by the Serbian army. In 1935 his semi-autobiographical work The Prison (Albanian: Burgu), a memoir of life in prison and its degraded conditions and effects, was published. The novel Sikur t'isha djalë (English: If I were a Boy), published in 1936, is his best-known work and the first literary work in Albanian that dealt with the subjects of feminism and the emancipation of women. "Sikur t'isha djalë" became one of the most popular books of the 1930s in Albanian and is considered revolutionary for that period.

Reviews

[Ilda Metani · Rating 5 out of 5]

The novel “If I Were a Boy” addresses gender inequality and the difficult position of women in traditional Albanian society in a very sensitive and courageous way. Through the main character, the author succeeds in showing the pain, injustices, and limitations imposed on a girl simply because of her gender. The book makes the reader reflect on freedom, rights, and the role of women in society. The language is simple but very touching, which keeps the story relevant even today.

Although I admit that in Albania many things have changed and women now have far more rights, they are still never fully equal to men and remain subject to prejudice, often seen as inferior. Around the world, this issue is still very much present, and I would love for this book to reach a wider audience.

In conclusion, I can say that I laughed and cried a lot while reading it. It was full of emotions, and I definitely recommend it.

[Edi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Took me a while, but I finally did it!
I finished reading this book in English and the original in Albanian.
Still a bit mindblown or surprised that this novel exists, but I am definitely happy and glad about it.
The story is pretty depressing, not gonna lie. I felt very bad for Dija multiple times.
I was really hoping that she would make it to Italy and get at least a few more happy years in before the Turberculosis did its thing... Anyway, fascinating read and very interesting setting.
I kinda wish I got to talk to some of these people, they seemed nice.
As always I am terrible at reviews, so I will just leave you with this.