The Pyramid (Kadare) - Definition and Overview

The novel the Pyramid, by Ismail Kadare, is one of the greatest works produced by a dissident writer, rivaling the Garden Party, by Havel. The book serves a literary and a dissentish purpose. Every sentence has two meanings- one in the novel and one that tells something about Communism. For example, the Pharaoh Cheops desires to build a pyramid so large that it will drain the prosperity out of Egypt, and an unprosperous people will not rebel. Enver Hoxha, the Stalinist leader of Albania, builds the system of Communism so that it drains the prosperity out of Albania, and at the same time ensures his stay in power. Like in all his novels, Kadare uses only the pure Albanian language and does not add foreign words. This is unique of him, and many credit him to restoring the Albanian language. He is called "Albania's Shakespeare".