Lea Ypi

Un deslumbrante retrato personal, histórico y político del derrumbe del estalinismo en Albania y la turbulenta llegada de la democracia.

Cuando era una niña, con apenas once años, Lea Ypi fue testigo del fin del mundo. Al menos del fin de un mundo. En 1990 el régimen comunista de Albania, el último bastión del estalinismo en Europa, se desplomó.

Ella, adoctrinada en la escuela, no entendía por qué se derribaban las estatuas de Stalin y Hoxha, pero con los monumentos cayeron también los secretos y los silencios: se desvelaron los mecanismos de control de la población, los asesinatos de la policía secreta...

El cambio de sistema político dio paso a la democracia, pero no todo fue color de rosa. La transición hacia el liberalismo supuso la reestructuración de la economía, la pérdida masiva de empleos, la oleada migratoria hacia Italia, la corrupción y la quiebra del país.

En el entorno familiar, ese período trajo sorpresas inauditas para Lea: descubrió qué eran las «universidades» en las que supuestamente habían «estudiado» sus padres y por qué estos hablaban en clave o en susurros; supo que un antepasado había formado parte de un gobierno anterior al comunismo y que a la familia le habían expropiado sus bienes.

Mezcla de memorias, ensayo histórico y reflexión sociopolítica, con el añadido de una prosa de soberbia factura literaria y pinceladas de un humor tendente al absurdo –como no podía ser de otra manera, dado el lugar y tiempo que se retrata–, Libre es de una lucidez deslumbrante: refleja, desde la experiencia personal, un momento convulso de transformación política que no necesariamente desembocó en justicia y libertad.… (mehr)

I love this book and think it is an extraordinary work of insight & expression. Basically, it is the story of a person born in 1979 in Albania, what it was like as she grew into girlhood during the isolated, intentionally distant from the world nation run by Enver Hoxha from the end of WW II to 1990 when it came unglued. It then goes through some of what life was like in the post-communist period up till she was 18. During the communist period there were numerous contradictions, and their parents were not communists who had to mouth slogans and never tell anyone - including her - what they really believed. Some of their immediate relatives had been imprisoned for long periods. In the 1990's there was freedom & improvement in the lives of most people ... until things fell apart in 1996 and became a violent revolution in 1997. The author, a professor of philosophy, was always someone who read & thought; and her articulation of those 18 years was so well-written & compelling that I felt joy much of the time that I was reading it. I admire the author and respect what she has done in writing this book.… (mehr)

As a school child in the 1980’s, Lea Ypi learned the Communist slogans and a love for Uncle Hoxna (Enver Hoxha). But she noted there were puzzling aspects to her existence. Adults in her family talked of people ‘going to University’, but never coming back. And the ubiquitous portrait of Hoxna did not appear in her family’s home – when questioned, they always made excuses, such as saying they were waiting for the perfect frame before hanging it.

Student unrest grew and riots followed leading to a revolution in 1989 and the first multi-party elections in 1991.

Both of Lea’s parents tried to further Albania’s march toward Westernisation and the acceptance into the European Union and NATO. However, liberalization led to massive layoffs and unemployment. Western financial and peacekeeping forces seemed to add to the chaos. Many citizens lost fortunes in financial ponzi schemes which were often supported by the government.

I had shockingly little knowledge of Albania’s history when I started this book. I found this memoir of communism and the post communism era in Albania really interesting and often humorous.

Eventually the author moved to Italy where she studied philosophy. She is currently a professor of political theory at the London School of Economics.… (mehr)