Henrik Lacaj Explained
| Birth Date: | 11 February 1909 |
| Birth Place: | Shkodra, Ottoman Empire |
| Death Date: | 12 March 1991 (aged 82) |
| Death Place: | Tirana, Albania |
| Occupation: | Linguist, translator, professor |
| Language: | Albanian, Latin, Ancient Greek, Italian |
| Alma Mater: | Saverian College of the Jesuits, University of Padua |
| Genre: | Classics, Albanian Language, Albanian History |
| Notableworks: | Latin-Albanian Dictionary, The Siege of Shkodra (trans. Latin>Albanian) |
| Spouse: | Zita (Bonati) Lacaj |
| Children: | Nikolin Lacaj, Nausika Lacaj, Viktor Lacaj |
| Relatives: | Pashko Gjeci |
| Signature: | Henrik Lacaj (nënshkrim).svg |
Henrik Lacaj (February 11, 1909 – March 12, 1991) was an Albanian humanitarian, linguist, and translator.[1] He authored textbooks, plays, and various studies on historical figures such as Scanderbeg and Luigj Gurakuqi,[2] but in Albania he is most venerated for his numerous translations of Latin and Greek masterpieces.[3] [4]
Bibliography
Original works
- The Latin-Albanian Dictionary (over 20,000 words; in collaboration with Filip Fishta)[5]
- Dictionary Latin-Albanian (unpublished and in cards)
- Monographs on Pjeter Budi and Dom Ndoc Nikaj.
- Studies on the lives and works of Luigj Gurakuqi and Hilё Mosi.
- An essay on Scanderbeg, in Italian.
- Moisi Golemi of Dibra (drama).
- Ora e Shqypnis [Albanian's Fairy].
- Articles in the magazines Shkёndija, Iliria, and Rilindja.
| - A sonnet for independence, 28 Nëndor 1912.
- Notes on the Life and Literary Work of Luigj Gurakuq
- Notes on the Life and Work of Dom Ndoc Nikaj
- Philological Studies: Pjetër Budi, The First Poet of our Literature
- Philological Studies: Scanderbeg in the Italian Literature (1967)
- The History of the Teaching and Pronunciation of the Latin language in Albania. Written in Italian, published by Das Altertum magazine in East Berlin.
- Essay on the Latin language in Albania and its pronunciation.
- Essay on Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin
- “The expedition of George Kastrioti Skarnderbeg in Puglie” by Gennaro Maria Monti
- “In the Wave of Preparations” (an essay published in 1928 on the 50th Anniversary of Saverian College)
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Translated works
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| - Gerusalemme liberata Jerusalem Delivered (Torquato Tasso) (unpublished—translated in octaves with rhyme, like the original)
- The History of Life and Work of Scanderbeg (Marinus Barletius) (co-translated by Stefan Prifti)
- Look Back In Anger (a play by John Osborne)
- The Meeting of Hector and Andromache (excerpt) (Homer)
- Metamorphoses (Ovid) (with an introduction by Dalan Shapllo)
- Oedipus Rex (Sophocles)[9]
- Përse Rrojmë Gjallë [Why Do We Live] (based on the Italian canzonette Perche Si Vive)
- Trëndafila dhe Gjëmba [Roses and Thorns] (Pashko Vasa)—translated by Lacaj into Italian as Rose e Spine
- The Warrior (Luftëtari) (based on the Italian canzonette La Ferrera)
- The Wasps (Aristophanes)
- Other works of classical authors such as Aristophanes, Catullus, Homer, Horace, Martialis, Ovid, Plautus, Propertius, Tibullus, and Virgil.
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Notes and References
- Web site: http://www.zeri.info/artikulli/4/22/2225/perurohet-kryevepra-e-edit-durhamit-per-fiset-ligjet-dhe-zakonet-e-ballkanasve/ . www.zeri.info . 2012-05-01.
- Web site: Biblioteka Kombëtare e Shqipërisë. www.bksh.al . 2012-05-01.
- Koha Jone 20, August 3, 1997
- Gazeta Universiteti, Nr. 2 (33), March 10, 1962
- Lacaj, Henrik and Fishta, Filip. The Latin-Albanian Dictionary (created originally in 1966 as Fjalor Latinisht - Shqip). Tirana: Morava, 2004.
- Virgil. Aeneid (translated by Henrik Lacaj as Eneida). Tirana: Toena, 1996.
- Barleti, Marin. Rrethimi i Shkodrës (translated by Henrik Lacaj). Tirana: Universiteti Shteteror, 1962.
- Lucretius. De Rerum Natura, translated by Henrik Lacaj as Mbi Natyren (On the Nature of Things). Tirana: Naim Frashёri, 1961.
- Sophocles. Οἰδίπους Τύραννος (translated by Henrik Lacaj as Edipi Mbret). Tirana: Onufri, 2006, .
