03/11/2025
Author: Prof. Vjollca Dibra
Author's Interview: https://www.elivapress.com/en/news/news-3557170364/
Book:THE WRITER AND THE MAN
1. Please introduce yourself. What would you like your reader to know about you?
- I am Prof. Assoc. Dr. Vjollca Dibra, Dean of the Faculty of Philology at the University “Ukshin Hoti” in Prizren, Kosovo. My academic and research work is rooted in Comparative Literature, with a focus on the intersections of literature, philosophy, ethics, and the human condition. I completed my postdoctoral research at the University of Karl-Franzens in Graz, Austria, at the Institute for Cultural Studies, where I deepened my interest in the moral and intercultural dimensions of literary interpretation. I have authored and co-authored several scholarly works, including World Literature I (in press) and The Writer and the Man (Eliva Press, 2024). My master’s thesis, later published as a monograph, The Heroine and the De-Heroized Woman, explored archetypes of femininity in comparative contexts.
2. What is your inspiration/motivation?
-My inspiration arises from the timeless dialogue between literature and the human spirit. I am fascinated by how writers express ethical dilemmas, solitude, revolt, and hope through the power of words. My motivation comes from the desire to understand the human being behind the creative mind—to reveal how personal experiences, historical circumstances, and philosophical reflections shape the literary voice. Teaching and mentoring young researchers continues to inspire me, as I witness their transformation through reading, analysis, and discovery.
3. How long did it take to complete your book from the idea to publication?
-The Writer and the Man was the outcome of several years of intellectual and emotional work. The idea took shape during my postdoctoral research at the University of Karl-Franzens in Graz, Institute for Cultural Studies, where I examined how identity, art, and ethics intersect in comparative literature. It took around three years to develop, write, and finalize the manuscript. Each of the authors studied—Ezra Pound, Ivo Andrić, and Peter Handke—required deep contextual research and philosophical interpretation, which gradually evolved into a cohesive comparative study.
4. What's the main message and idea of your book "THE WRITER AND THE MAN"?
-The book explores the intricate relationship between the writer’s artistic identity and their moral existence. Through a comparative analysis of Ezra Pound, Ivo Andrić, and Peter Handke, I investigate how creative expression often arises from personal contradictions. The central message is that literary creation and moral consciousness are inseparable: every text reflects both artistic intention and ethical struggle. The book invites readers to reconsider the balance between aesthetic value and moral responsibility in art.
5. What was the most unexpected conclusion you came up with while preparing "THE WRITER AND THE MAN"?
-The most unexpected realization was that the line between genius and moral fragility is often blurred. The more I studied these authors, the clearer it became that their inner conflicts and imperfections were not flaws but essential forces driving their creativity. The conclusion is that literature derives its enduring strength from this tension—between purity of art and imperfection of the human soul.
6. How would you describe your publishing experience with Eliva Press in a few words?
-My experience with Eliva Press has been marked by professionalism, integrity, and mutual respect. The editorial and communication process was smooth and intellectually engaging. I appreciated their commitment to supporting independent academic voices and providing authors with a high-quality publishing platform.
7. What contribution do you think your research makes to the academic field or discipline?
-This book contributes to Comparative Literature by building bridges between Western and Southeastern European traditions through ethical and philosophical discourse. Drawing on insights developed during my postdoctoral work at the Institute for Cultural Studies in Graz, it highlights how literature reflects the interplay between identity, power, and moral consciousness. It also reopens the debate on the relationship between artistic creation and historical responsibility—an issue increasingly relevant in contemporary literary studies.
8. How do you hope readers—especially researchers and students—will use your book in their work or studies?
-I hope this book serves as both an analytical tool and an invitation for reflection. For scholars, it offers a framework to analyze the moral dimension of authorship in comparative contexts. For students, it is a guide to reading literature not only as artistic expression but also as a space for ethical dialogue and cultural self-understanding. My aim is to inspire readers to think critically about how literature shapes and questions our sense of humanity.
9. What future research topics or projects are you planning to explore next?
-I am currently working on several projects:
“Avenging and Virtuous Women in Ancient Greek Literature,” submitted to the ATINER Conference on Literature in Athens;
“Women between Sin, Hope, and Revolt: A Comparative Study of Eve, Pandora, and Lysistrata,” which examines female archetypes and their symbolic evolution from myth to modernity;
the forthcoming textbook World Literature I, designed to support university teaching by connecting classical texts with modern interpretative perspectives.
These works continue my broader interest in women’s representation, moral agency, and the intercultural dimensions of world literature.
