How does an artist listen to the pain of others? How can writing represent and respect their voices?

In this episode, Albanian Italian author, and English PEN Award winner, Elvira Dones talks to Alice Flinta about her process of writing, and how her life experiences inform the creative process. From life in Albania and her escape in 1988, to the asylum experience in Switzerland, to the documentary work across borders (Albania, Italy, Kosovo and the U.S.) that informs her literary endeavours, Dones offers intimate and thought-provoking insights into being transnational and living transnationally.

For more info on Elvira Dones’s events and publications, see her official website http://www.elviradones.com/

Sworn Virgin is available in Clarissa Botsford’s English translation (And Other Stories, 2014).

The episode transcript can be accessed here.

The English translation can be accessed here.

This episode is part of the EUTERPE Podcast Library on European Literatures and Genders from a Transnational Perspective.

The podcast is powered by the European Union, UKRI, and the Central European University Library.

Grant Agreement: 101073012 EUTERPE HORIZON-MSCA-2021-DN-01 Project.

For more information about the EUTERPE project please refer to the official project webpage https://www.euterpeproject.eu/, or follow us on Instagram @euterpe_project_ or Facebook at EUTERPE Doctoral Network Project.

This episode was produced and edited by: Alice Flinta.

With thanks to the Creativity Lab and Podcast studio team at the University of York.

Thank you to Alexander Walker and Lilu for the music and to Alice Flinta for the voice over.

Thank you also to Ninutsa Nadirashvili and Kris Orszaghova for designing the podcast covers.