Albanisches Bauernleben im oberen Rekatal bei Dibra (Makedonien)

Author: Doda, Bajazid Elmaz

As volume 1 in a series titled: Balkanologie - Beiträge zur Sprach- und Kulturwissenschaft, this is a remarkable one. Doda as a servant to Franz Baron Nopsca wrote the book in Albanian and was later translated and finished in 1914 by Baron Nopsca in German language. The book however was never published until now. Robert Elsie has written the introduction to this interesting publication.

First of all it should be mentioned that the home village of the author in the book was completely destroyed in WWI, just two years after the survey. The people were forced to leave the region. In this respect it is a view on a world gone by.

The book starts with a description of the Reka valley, the geology, nature, climate etcetera. The second chapter is about customs, followed by a chapter on the way of living, and a chapter on the material culture like architecture, costumes and food.

Chapter 5 is about the relationship with the Turkish government of that time, the laws, bandits etcetera.
Chapter 6 is about fairytales and other stories, 7 deals with the language.

The book is in German language as was the original with some minor corrections on Albanian spelling.