66 pages • 2 hours read
Broken April
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Book Brief
218
Novel • Fiction
Albanian Mountains • 1920s
1978
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
Published in 1979 and translated into English in 1990, Ismail Kadare’s Broken April is a dramatic story set in the remote mountainsides of Albania. The plot centers around Gjorg Berisha, a young mountaineer entangled in a blood feud, and the newlyweds Bessian and Diana Vorpsi, who visit the region for their honeymoon and become involved in the local customs. The narrative explores themes of normalized violence, women's liberation, and the slowness of meaningful change. The book addresses topics related to violence and murder within the context of traditional blood feuds.
Melancholic
Mysterious
Contemplative
Dark
Unnerving
Reviews & Readership
7,130 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Ismail Kadare's Broken April is widely praised for its evocative portrayal of Albanian culture and the blood feud tradition, delivering a haunting atmosphere and rich, lyrical prose. Criticisms include a slow pacing and occasionally opaque character motivations. Overall, it's a powerful study of tradition and human psyche, though not universally gripping.
Who Should Read Broken April?
Readers captivated by the clash of tradition and modernity, or those who enjoyed Albert Camus's The Stranger or Gabriel García Márquez's One Hundred Years of Solitude, will find Ismail Kadare's Broken April compelling. This book appeals to those interested in Albanian culture, vendetta codes, and the human condition amidst archaic practices.
7,130 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Diana Vorpsi
Diana Vorpsi
A strikingly beautiful woman from Tirana, newly married to Bessian Vorpsi. She navigates her relationship and the challenges of being objectified while maintaining her strong will and critical perspective.
Bessian Vorpsi
Bessian Vorpsi
A talkative and pretentious writer fascinated with the Kanun, who takes his wife Diana to the North country. His character serves as an expository tool for the traditions of the High Plateau but also reveals personal flaws in his interactions with his wife.
Mark Ukacierra
Mark Ukacierra
A steward of the blood at the kulla of Orosh, Mark is a conservative and devout follower of the Kanun. His perspective adds depth to the story as he represents the traditional views of the High Plateau.
218
Novel • Fiction
Albanian Mountains • 1920s
1978
Adult
18+ years
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