Mar 30, 2024. Posted by Balkan Periscope - Hellas
Tirana.
A launch
event for the Albanian language edition of “A Concise History of Greece” has
generated wide interest in the book, which brings a detailed overview of modern
Greece's political, economic and social developments to local readers.
The book provides a concise and illustrated introduction to the modern history of Greece, from the end of the 18th century to the present day.
"Given
that I had already written ’A Short History of Modern Greece,’ also
published by Cambridge University Press in 1979, I sought to make
the Concise History a different book. One way I did this was by
accompanying the text with some seventy illustrations, together with lengthy
explanatory captions,” the author said at the Tirana launch event.
“Another difference was that I called the book ’A Concise History
of Greece’ and not of Modern Greece, and began with a
survey of the history of the Greek lands in the fifty years before the onset of
the War of Independence, rather than going back further into the historical
past."
The fourth edition, which is the AIIS Albanian translated version, was published in English 2021 and was timed to coincide with the 200th anniversary of the outbreak of the Greek War of Independence in 1821.
“The first
edition of my Concise History was published in 1992 and was 257 pages
long, but now, in its fourth edition, it is a not so concise 352 pages
long,” Professor Clogg said.
For the
Ambassador of Greece to Albania, Konstantina Kamitsi, the presentation of
Clogg's work is very important and valuable.
“The book
at hand is the translation of the updated 4th edition of 2021, covering even
the most recent period of economic crisis in the first twenty years of the 21st
century, as well as the celebration of the 200th anniversary of the Greek
Revolution of 1821. It thus offers a concise and comprehensible overview of
modern Greek history, political developments and social changes in Greece,”
Ambassador Kamitsi said.
"With
this work, the British professor faithfully serves the serious and sober
historical approach, which is why the "Concise History of Greece" has
been translated into many languages, including all the Balkan languages, and
was awarded in 1993 the Runciman prize."
Ambassador
Kamitsi added that this latest translation “offers the Albanian public the
opportunity to know and better understand Greece, through the historical review
of the main events of its modern and contemporary history.”
She also
noted that that the publication could not have been carried out without our
cooperation AIIS, “a think tank of renowned authority not only in Albania, but
also in the entire Balkan area, which has been doing important work, making
efforts for years to offer well-informed publications on history, politics and
international relations to the Albanian public.”
"For
all possible reasons: historical, political, economic, cultural, Greece has
been and is one of the most important countries in Albania's international
relations. During the last thirty years, since the fall of communism, Greece
has helped the difficult transition of Albania, and likewise the Albanians have
helped in the revitalization of the Greek economy, development and
progress," Dr. Rakipi said.
“A Concise
History of Greece" is the newest title added to the special series of AIIS
Library of History and International Relations that the institute has been
publishing since its establishment more than two decades ago. More than 100
titles, most of them from top Western universities, have been translated
and published as part of the program.
“A good
part of these books have served and serve in the construction of curricula in
all Albanian universities when it comes to international relations, history,
political sciences and similar disciplines,” Dr. Rakipi said, adding this
latest book would be “is really useful for academics, historians, journalists
and politicians” as “a valuable resource for anyone seeking a deeper
understanding of Greek history, culture and its relation to contemporary
affairs.”
Present at
the promotion were ambassadors, diplomats, former ministers, deputies,
academics, publishers, journalists and various enthusiasts.
Clogg is an emeritus professor at the University of Oxford and has taught in Oxford, London and Edinburgh for decades. A deep connoisseur of the history of Greece, he has been a prolific writer, highlighting with his work various aspects of the modern and contemporary history of Greece.
The
Cambridge University Press series consists so far of some forty concise
histories and more are yet to be published. Already published are volumes
in the series offering surveys of the history of other Balkan countries. These
are Bulgaria, Bosnia, Romania, Serbia and Albania.
Tirana
Times
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