Albania, the Master Key to the Near East Paperback – Aug. 31 2020
by Christo A. Dako (Author), Richard Gottheil (Introduction), & 1 more
TO BUY THE BOOK PLEASE USE THE FOLLOWING LINK: https://amzn.to/3ZE0Chg
SUMMARY OF THE BOOK: This is one of the first comprehensive histories of the Albanian people ever written.
It was penned by the American-educated Albanian, Christo A. Dako, whose purpose was to convince powerful people that Albania might hold the key to promoting peace in the Balkans. He aimed to influence the power brokers at the Paris Peace Conference, especially the Americans, who were on the rise as a global power and whose president (Wilson) had pledged his commitment to uphold the rights of smaller nations. Dako began writing this book in 1913, shortly after Albania’s proclamation of independence in November, 1912. The Albanians were largely unknown in the world, and even less understood. Dako believed his people were under threat of assimilation by Balkan neighbors.
His original book was beautifully bound, in hopes of being noticed. It was crimson red, like Albania’s flag, with gold lettering. It included photographs, thirty of them (reproduced here), strategically chosen to portray educated Albanian men and women, children in traditional costumes, national political gatherings, a modern musical band, and influential foreigners supporting Albania. Dako knew the power of images and sound-bites in a context of international information overload. He knew that the elite audience he hoped to reach might only take time to skim his masterpiece, so he embedded his core message into the very title. Albania, he argued, was “the master key” to the Balkans. This title expressed hope but also sounded a warning. The implication was this: “Albania can be a powerful ally for peace, but neglect it at the world’s peril.”
This edition is a reprint with a new historical preface, written by Dr. David Hosaflook, Albania scholar and laureate of the first annual “22 November” Prize in the Republic of North Macedonia, for achievements in the sphere of political, cultural and social life which have contributed toward the advancement of mutual understanding between members of various communities, cultures and religions.
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