Renowned Novelist Ismail Kadare Dies At 88

World-renowned Albanian novelist Ismail Kadare, known for peacefully challenging oppression, dies at 88.

The Albanian literary powerhouse was best known for works such as "Broken April" and "The General of the Dead Army," which used allegorical fiction to depict life under communist dictator Enver Hoxha.

Ismail Kadare, who had long been rumored to be a contender for the Nobel Literature Prize, died at the age of 88 after being transported to a Tirana hospital, his publishing editor announced on Monday.

A nurse at the hospital, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because she was not authorized to speak to the press, said the renowned novelist had a heart attack.

Albanian President Bajram Begaj said in a statement released by his office: “Albania and Albanians lost their genius of letters, their spiritual emancipator, the Balkans (lost) the poet of its myths, Europe and the world (lost) one of the most renowned representatives of modern literature,”