Milto Sotir Gurra, writer and publicist, was born in Marjan of Opar (Korçë). He completed his first lessons in Korça, and secondary school in Odesa (Russia). He spent part of his life abroad (Russia, United States of America, Bulgaria). He participated in the patriotic movement and was a delegate to the Congress of Lushnja (1920). He published the magazines “Shkëndia,” “Zekthi” (1922), and “Mituria” (1944) and collaborated with various organs of the time. He wrote the works ” Rrëfenja” (The Story) (1911), “Goca e malësi” (The Mountain Girl) (1912), “Plagët e Kurberti” (The Wounds of Migration) (1938), etc. He was among the early contributors to the short story genre. In his works, representatives of the poor classes held a central place, depicting their hardships. Realistic tendencies, occasionally mixed with sentimental notes, simplicity in narration, and a naive weaving of plots are the hallmarks of Milto Gurrës’ oeuvre. He was among the first to engage in translations from Russian literature (A. Pushkin, I. Turgeniev, A. Chekhov, M. Gorky, etc.). Some of his writings were compiled and reprinted in the volumes “Kur rilindej Shqipëria” (When Albania was reborn) (1958), “Plaku i motshëm” (The Old Man) (1959), “Tregime të zgjedhura” (Selected tales) 1972), “Dashuria e Matildës” (Matilda’s Love) (2003) and in the poetry collection “Dëshirë” (Desire) (1971). He passed away in Tirana in 1972. (In the photo: Milto Sotir Gurra)
Text: Albanian encyclopedic dictionary – Vol. 1 , Academy of Sciences of Albania, “Kristalina-KH”, Tirana, 2008, page 803.
Photo: © https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milto_Sotir_Gurra
Graphic processing: AHCF
