Albanian author Ismail Kadare received the Neustadt International Prize for literature during the virtual Neustadt Lit Festival on Oct. 19-21. 

The Neustadt International Prize for literature is an award authors receive in recognition of their work. According to the Neustadt Prize website, the prize includes $50,000 and a replica of an eagle feather cast in silver. 

Kadare accepted his award at the U.S. embassy in Tirana. 

Kadare is an Albanian author known for channeling the history and culture of his country into his writing. According to the Neustadt Prize website, Kadare has received multiple awards during his career such as the Man Booker International Prize, 2009 Prince of Asturias Prize and Jerusalem Prize for the Freedom of the Individual in Society.

Daniel Simon, editor-in-chief of World Literature today, said that Kadare’s work can be compared to other famous Western literature writers. 

“Kadare’s work participates in the tradition of Western literary masterpieces, from Aeschylus, Ovid, Dante and Shakespeare to the 21st century,” Simon said. 

Every year, a jury comes together to nominate a famous author to be considered for the Neustadt Prize. According to Robert Con Davis-Undiano,  Executive Director of World Literature Today and Neustadt Professor at the University of Oklahoma, someone can only be nominated if a juror puts forward the name of the writer. 

Joseph O. Legaspi is an American poet and a former juror for the Neustadt Prize. Legaspi said that the experience of being a juror is hard, however, he would do it again. 

“It was an honor to be asked,” Legaspi said. “ It was a grueling process because you have to read a lot. When I came at the end of it to the other side, I was a more informed person, and I love that.”  

The festival was operated via zoom this year; participants chose the sessions they were interested in attending through the schedule on the Neustadt Prize website. 

Davis-Undiano said the virtual festival allowed people from all over the world to attend.

“I’m really pleased about all the people around the world,” Davis-Undiano said. “Forty-six countries were registered for this and that’s just amazing.” 

Simon said that moving the festival online has been transformative and allows more engagement. 

“I was probably the biggest zoom cynic,” Simon said. “But the engagement thus far has been remarkable. Managing Q&A with the audience through the chatbox, for example, has been lively and fascinating.” 

The Neustadt Lit Fest will continue to be hosted online for the upcoming years. 

Davis-Undiano said that he wants students to familiarize themselves with and participate in the Lit Fest in the future. 

“I have a passion that I really want all of this to matter for students,” Davis-Undiano said. “I want them to participate, be proud. I want it to be something they tell their friends about, tell their family about.” 

More information about the Neustadt Prize can be found here:https://www.neustadtprize.org/neustadt-lit-fest/