Luan Starova

Luan Starova (1941, Pogradec, Albania ‒ 2022, Skopje, North Macedonia), lived in Macedonia since 1943. He was educated in the Macedonian language and graduated in French language and literature. Since 1974, after a master's and doctorate in Zagreb, he specialized in the field of modern French literature at the Sorbonne in Paris and continues his career as a university professor at the Faculty of Philology in Skopje. In two terms he was the ambassador of SFRY in Tunisia and Palestine, then the first ambassador of the Republic of Macedonia to France, the permanent representative to UNESCO and the non-resident ambassador to Spain and Portugal.
He appeared in literature in his twenties. He wrote in Macedonian, Albanian and French. Until 1991, he was mostly known for his essays, travelogues and literary studies. Since 2003, he has been a member of the Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts (MANU), a member of the Mediterranean Academy and a member of the Albanian Academy of Sciences.
Starova drew the attention of the domestic and international literary and cultural public by publishing the novel Father's Books. His second novel titled Time of the Goats won the first prize in the competition of the publishing house Misla. The author wrote the novel in Macedonian and Albanian, and it has so far been published in French, German, Spanish, Italian, Turkish, Greek, Romanian, Croatian, Polish, Bulgarian, English (in the USA), Russian, Finnish, Slovenian, Esperanto and other languages. In addition, his most important novels are The Balkan Key, The Atheist Museum, The Eel Road, The Fortress of Ashes, The Balkan Sacrificial Capricorn, and Ervehe. A book about a mother, General's Love, Balkan Babylonians, Polyphonists and The Return of the Goats. Most of these novels have been translated into a dozen languages. Many critiques have been written about the Balkan Saga, dissertations have been defended, scientific conferences and promotions have been organized in several European cities. For this novel Starova he received the French literary award "Marguerite Yourcenar" and the Medal of the Association of Writers who write in French. He is the recipient of the award Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters and one of the greatest French medals - Officer of the National Order of the Legion of Honor.

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