Inside the world of Dritëro Agolli: a rare exhibition at his Tirana Home-Studio

A year after the inauguration of the Dritëro Agolli House-Studio in Tirana, a rare exhibition has opened to the public, offering an intimate look into the creative world of one of Albania’s most beloved writers. For the first time, visitors can explore original manuscripts of the iconic novel “The Rise and Fall of Comrade Zylo,” alongside Agolli’s handwritten notebooks, personal letters, and authentic objects from his everyday life.

The National Library of Albania contributed to the exhibition by providing original editions of the satirical magazine Hosteni and Rilindja Publishing House, as well as several publications of the novel “The Rise and Fall of Comrade Zylo” released over the years.

The event coincided with what would have been the 94th birthday of the renowned Albanian writer, bringing together authors, journalists, scholars, close friends, family members, students, and admirers who gathered in his former home – now a museum – to celebrate his enduring legacy.

Anisa Ymeri, Director of the Kadare-Agolli House-Studios, highlighted the essential role of Elona Agolli, the writer’s daughter, in making the exhibition possible and enabling visitors to experience a more personal connection with her father’s creative world. She noted that the exhibition will remain open until the end of the year for anyone wishing to explore this unique part of Dritëro Agolli’s literary and cultural heritage in his museum-home in Tirana.

Context: Dritëro Agolli (1931-2017) was one of Albania’s most influential writers, poets, and essayists. Born in Menkulas, Devoll, he graduated in philology from Leningrad University and went on to become a defining figure of Albanian postwar literature. His best-known works include the satirical novel “The Rise and Fall of Comrade Zylo” and the novel “The Commissar Memo,” both acclaimed for their rich language, irony, and sharp social insight. Agolli also served for many years as Chairman of the Albanian League of Writers and Artists and is remembered for his humanism, humor, and deep reflection on Albanian identity and everyday life.