The Accursed Mountains; Journeys in Albania

by Robert Carver

Release Date: August, 1999

Edition: Paperback

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ethnocentric extraordinaire

Mr. Carver moves around Albania with the fear and distance typical of many western reporters who are uninterested in making a committment to understanding the local perspective. His western template is the perspective from which he sees and interprets the Albanians. In this sense, Mr. Carver's sense, they are a very bizzare people.

His contacts throughout the trip are with westerners, and in many cases missionaries. Missionaries, like the ones he describes, are also uninterested in making a committment to understanding the local perspective. Both the missionaries and Mr. Carver's stock and trade is finding "material" to exploit.

The one star is for writing: Mr. Carver is an artist. Unfortunately, his impressions of Albania were made from secondary accounts long before his arrival. His visit was to search for the data which would match his story.

Read anything by Mary Edith Durham to start seeing things from another perspective and to read from an author who respects her subject.

The worst book ever written for Albania

I guess the author of this book has visited Albanian mountains only form the helicopter windows.... they are beautiful and wild of course but the way you can see the Albanian tradition and the culture is not only the negative side.
Many foreigners that visited Albania for some reasons read this book and they were really disappointed with this writer....
I wouldn't suggest this book to the new arrivals in Albania...
If you wanna know about Albania traditions you better read Edith Durham Books ...they are wonderful..
I wish Mr. Catver would visit Albania and update his book....
Thank you