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Summary: Comment by Hugh Downs
Review: "An enlightened volume on a country little known to the West. It is more than just informative. It provides insights into the Albanian culture which can instruct any other culture. Beautiful photographs and a clear, well-written text."--Hugh Downs, host of ABC News, 20/20
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Summary: Exquisite photographs, mesmerizing text
Review: "Long Life to Your Children: A Portrait of High Albania" will lead you on a fascinating visual, intellectual and emotional journey through remote Northern Albania. Senechal's craft as interviewer permits the men and women to speak to us directly of their experince of daily life past and present, and their yearnings and fears for the future. Through these personal stories, we learn also about the history and culture of the country. The Albania we encounter in this book starkly contradicts the images and stereotypes presented in the U.S. media. Sherer's exquisite photographs of these people and their land imbues the text with rare power to engage and provoke the reader. I cannot think of anyone who would not benefit from reading it. It is also beautifully designed and very reasonably priced.
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Summary: The most original book I've seen in a long time
Review: A very well written and organized book. It describes this amazing country and its people in a very original and pleasant way. A must read.
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Summary: A commendable job in discovering the ethos of the Albanians
Review: Albania is a third-world European nation with dismal gray communist block buildings littering the cities, and more than 600,000 concrete pill boxes land studding its countryside and beaches. For the past fifty years, under the tyrannical dictatorship of the communist leader Enver Hoxha and his isolation from the rest of the world, the people of Albania have languished. After 50 years of no contact with the outside world what must the Albanians have thought when they awoke in 1991 to the fast-paced, competitive world of the 21st century? Northern Albania (High Albania) is a totally different land than the South. High Albania is an intriguing part of the country that retains separate customs and identity. Marjorie Senechal interviewed scores of ordinary men and women with the intent of discovering who these people are, what have they been through, and what does the future look like to them. She invites the common people of Albania to talk candidly - and talk they do. Without the past fears of being beaten, jailed, or even killed for expressing their thoughts they now talk openly about their children, their work, their problems, their fears and even their dreams. Each interview is accompanied by portrait style photos. Stan Sherer has chosen B&W photography to capture the soul of this suffering country. Sherer does a commendable job in discovering both the ethos of these people and the beauty of this part of the country. His photos reveal a balance between the despair and backwardness of Albania, and the strength of will and hospitality that are found in its people . The harmonious marriage of text and photos is divided into four chapters: ancient history, the past 100 years, the emerging present, and the hope for the future. In Albania it remains a daily struggle just to survive. Yet despite these difficulties, the traditional Albania toast - "Long life to your children" - is a cry for the future, a future of dreams fulfilled.
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Summary: A commendable job in discovering the ethos of the Albanians
Review: Albania is a third-world European nation with dismal gray communist block buildings littering the cities, and more than 600,000 concrete pill boxes land studding its countryside and beaches. For the past fifty years, under the tyrannical dictatorship of the communist leader Enver Hoxha and his isolation from the rest of the world, the people of Albania have languished. After 50 years of no contact with the outside world what must the Albanians have thought when they awoke in 1991 to the fast-paced, competitive world of the 21st century? Northern Albania (High Albania) is a totally different land than the South. High Albania is an intriguing part of the country that retains separate customs and identity. Marjorie Senechal interviewed scores of ordinary men and women with the intent of discovering who these people are, what have they been through, and what does the future look like to them. She invites the common people of Albania to talk candidly - and talk they do. Without the past fears of being beaten, jailed, or even killed for expressing their thoughts they now talk openly about their children, their work, their problems, their fears and even their dreams. Each interview is accompanied by portrait style photos. Stan Sherer has chosen B&W photography to capture the soul of this suffering country. Sherer does a commendable job in discovering both the ethos of these people and the beauty of this part of the country. His photos reveal a balance between the despair and backwardness of Albania, and the strength of will and hospitality that are found in its people . The harmonious marriage of text and photos is divided into four chapters: ancient history, the past 100 years, the emerging present, and the hope for the future. In Albania it remains a daily struggle just to survive. Yet despite these difficulties, the traditional Albania toast - "Long life to your children" - is a cry for the future, a future of dreams fulfilled.
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Summary: Beautiful and empathetic portrait of much-maligned Albania
Review: Albania is glimpsed by Americans only in the worst possible light, formerly as the world's most repressive Stalinist state, more recently as a lawless hooligan society drunk on pyramid schemes. This book presents a completely different picture. Through interviews and photographs, a cross-section of the inhabitants of the Albanian mountains, peasants and intellectuals alike, speak for themselves with directness, dignity, and intelligence, forging a human bond with the reader regardless of cultural differences. The authors' background essay is illuminating, and many of the photographs are stunning. Members of the press who participate in the stereotyping which passes for reporting on the Balkans in this country should ponder this book, and general readers are privileged to see Albania and the world through the eyes of these isolated, distinctive, fascinating people.
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Summary: WONDERFUL BOOK!!
Review: This book is a definte highlight and must have for anyone intested in Ghegeria (North ALbania). Long Life to your children is an excellent book with fantastic literary content about the culture and way of live for many Malesores (Higlanders) of North Albania. Anyone interested in Gheg clan culture and the typical life of many North ALbanians will find this book of valuable isight. There are also many wonderful photographs throughout the book to accomapny the text and provide a picture of what the North of The Land of The Eagle looks like. Shume i Mire (Very Good). A definite item to have in your collection of Albania.
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Summary: U befsh Njeqind Vjec
Review: This book is a definte highlight and must have for anyone intested in Ghegeria (North ALbania). Long Life to your children is an excellent book with fantastic literary content about the culture and way of live for many Malesores (Higlanders) of North Albania. Anyone interested in Gheg clan culture and the typical life of many North ALbanians will find this book of valuable isight. There are also many wonderful photographs throughout the book to accomapny the text and provide a picture of what the North of The Land of The Eagle looks like. Shume i Mire (Very Good). A definite item to have in your collection of Albania.
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Summary: WONDERFUL BOOK!!
Review: This book is a wonderful "visit" to Abania. We visited there last year and fell in love with the people there. I highly recommend it.Very interesting!
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Summary: Great job! Highly recommend it.
Review: This book talks about life in Albania from an outsiders view, however it also introduces you to many citizens of the country, doctors, lawyers, farmers, students, etc. and allows them to speak to you in their own words. I found this very refreshing since many other books don't give you that personal connection to a country. The book is also filled with great pictures. Many Albanians are frustrated that the West has decried communism for so many years, yet now that that these countries have embraced democracy, they feel lost, they need help and don't feel that the international community has done enough. After reading this book, I am sure you will agree that a "Marshall Plan" should be implemented in the Balkans. I know this was mentioned during and after the bombing of Kosova.
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