Pran of Albania

by Elizabeth Cleveland Miller, Maud Petersham (Illustrator), Miska Petersham (Illustrator)

Pran is a daughter of the sturdy mountain tribes of Albania - old enough to be betrothed in accordance with the ancient tribal traditions. This is the story of Pran and her life in the mountains and the refugee barracks at Skodra; of her friend, the laughing blue-eyed Nush and his secret; of her adventures in war times and peace, of her betrothal and the strange vow she takes.

-from the dustjacket

Genres: Historical Fiction, Juvenile

257 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1929

About the author

Elizabeth Cleveland Miller won a 1930 Newbery Honor for Pran of Albania.

Reviews

[Josiah · Rating 3 out of 5]

"I seek...I always seek. Some day I will find out what it is I am seeking."

―Pran, Pran of Albania, p. 212

Older books don't always transition well down through the decades. Their text remains the same as ever, but newer storytelling styles emerge (and with them, new common tastes in what is good and what is not), sensitivities to particular words, phrases and attitudes shift and change, and the inevitable advent of new technology deeply alters the way that we view the world around us and how we filter the stories we hear. I do believe that none of these factors should change the way that a serious reader regards a book―in my opinion, if we bring our contemporary cultural perceptions to a literary work from a hundred years ago and demand that it align with our present-day values or else it's no good, then the problem is ours, not the story's―however, Pran of Albania seems to transcend much of that, anyway. Here is a story of superb emotional and philosophical content, rich in the wise sayings of the Albanian people and as relevant to readers as just about anything being published today. Pran's journey into adolescence doesn't take a straight path and isn't all that much fun for her a lot of the time, but her story begs to be read by today's curious and insightful young readers just as surely as when it was first published in 1929.

The rumblings of war between Albania and its neighbor to the north, Serbia, are on the rise as the narrative begins. There have already been reports in fourteen-year-old Pran's village that the Serbs are waiting for the right moment to strike, but with the arrival of a mysterious guest at a dinner party that Pran's parents are hosting, it becomes clear that the reports are more than just rumors. While taking a walk after the party with her twin younger brothers and apprehensively mulling over the terrible consequences that a war would have on her family's current existence―not to mention on the freedom of Albania―Pran runs into a boy of about her age named Nush, who soon eases his way into her good graces. Nush is a loyal Albanian but lives on his own, his lack of connection to any parental figures a mystery to Pran, but his face soon becomes an unforgettable one to her. In the rural countryside of Albania there is never an abundance of contact with other people, so for Pran to have made a friend is an important matter. Nush can hold onto his secrets for as long as he needs to; Pran doesn't have to know every detail of his life in order to enjoy his company. When the time is right, he'll tell her what she needs to know.

But when the horizon begins to glow one day with the rosy warning of distant Albanian villages burning to the ground, their timber and farmland going up in flames that will only progress closer to Pran's home, the nation of Albania is moved to speedy action. Pran's father leaves to join up with the military, and Pran assumes that Nush has probably done the same, though there's no way to find out for sure what has happened to him in the chaos of movement that follows the coming of the Serbian army. Pran and her mother and brothers are forced to evacuate their home, knowing that the departing glance they take back at it will be their last sight of the house if the Serbs ever get this far, and then head toward a camp for Albanian families. All they can do now is hope that the fighting men of their country are strong enough, smart enough and brave enough to quell the rising momentum of the Serbian military wave as it sweeps across the Albanian border, threatening the lives of anyone caught in its terrible path.

As the cloistered Albanian families hopefully await word of the success of their nation's army, Pran finds more than one orphaned child to add to her own family, saving them from a bleak future begging on the streets apart from the central camp of Albanian non-soldiers. There's a lot for Pran to worry about, having not only her father but also her friend Nush facing combat every day in the dangerous makeshift war zones of the Albanian countryside, but as the men fight for their nation's freedom miles away, Pran knows that there is a great deal of good she can do right here in the relative shadow of safety in the camp. Rations may be scarce during this time of national crisis, but that doesn't stop Pran from continuing to offer her family's hospitality to those who need it, aiding orphaned refugees for whom the war has already cost far too much. By these acts of kindness, made possible by an entire camp of displaced people still willing to help others in even greater need than themselves, we see the goodness of their country, and perhaps a part of the reason why the Albanian soldiers are willing to lay down their lives for it. For as long a while as Pran must wait to hear word from the battlefront, she is going to exert the influence she has right where she is to ease the pain of those around her.

Pran of Albania boasts every bit as much intricacy and intelligence of plot construction as the Newbery winners from seventy or eighty years later. There's no shortage of seemingly innocuous statements in the book's first few chapters that tie in beautifully with secrets revealed down the road. The author really knew how to raise the emotional stakes with story connections that most readers won't guess right away but which eventually become apparent, and Pran's struggles to balance her personal feelings with her responsibilities to the customs and traditions of Albania begin to take center stage as we read further into the book and the immediate danger to the camp of non-fighting Albanians fades. Pran has no problem with honoring her country's traditions as long as they make sense, but some laws of Albania only seem to cause heartbreak and tragedy, such as the concept of state-condoned revenge in the form of a "blood oath" that a family member swears if one of their own family is ever killed. This revenge can legally be taken even on the family's next generation, exacted upon kids who share no part in the guilt and want only to live their lives, and the brutal custom of vengeance killing just continues back and forth between the two families down through the years until eventually a truce is enforced upon the warring sides. Pran loves Albania, but there are some parts to its laws that she knows are wrong, and there's no reason why she can't be the one to propose effective change to the justice system. The law of blood oaths isn't just a crusade of right and wrong for Pran; it has come to affect her family in a very personal way, and may stand as the one final roadblock to her chance of building a happy life.

Elizabeth Cleveland Miller seems largely forgotten today in the world of children's literature, which I think is very sad. While Pran of Albania is her only novel that I've read up to this point, it is a remarkable accomplishment, ranking far above most of the stories that her contemporaries had to tell. The emotions of the story still resonate clearly and powerfully all these years later, and the personalities of the characters really make one want to continue reading the book. This truly is a special piece of writing, a deserving Newbery Honor designee in every way, and I'm baffled as to why it is no longer in print (as of the time of this writing) so that it can further educate and illuminate the lives of young readers. I would easily give Pran of Albania three and a half stars, and I seriously considered rounding that rating up to four. I hope that it is brought back into print sometime very soon, as I believe that the world can only benefit from having such a thoughtful, engaging, memorable story back in publication, where its ideas can continue to impact readers of all ages.

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of six titles to be chosen as a Newbery Honor Book in 1930 - along with A Daughter of the Seine , The Tangled-Coated Horse and Other Tales , The Jumping-Off Place , Vaino: A Boy of New Finland , and Little Blacknose: The Story of a Pioneer - this work of historical fiction is engrossing, entertaining, and emotionally satisfying. It is also, to the best of my knowledge, completely unique. I know of no other children's book about Albania, save the author's own Children of the Mountain Eagle , based (as this one was) upon the author's time with the Red Cross in Albania, shortly after the close of the First World War.

The story of fourteen-year-old Pran, a daughter of the Maltsors, the mountain people of Albania, who - together with her father Ndrek, her mother Lukja, and her twin brothers Nik and Gjon - lives a simple pastoral life in the small northern village of Thethi, Pran of Albania is a tale of tradition and community, and the strength they give, during a time of trial. But it is also a tale of the need for change, the importance of choice, and the desire for love. It follows Pran from the night when guests arrive unexpectedly at her father's house, bringing with them a suggestion of the coming conflict with Albania's Slavic neighbors; through the war itself, in which Pran and the other civilians must evacuate to Skodra (Shkodër), while the men hold off the enemy; and finally, to the return of the villagers to Thethi, and the resolution of Pran's strange friendship with the wandering Nush.

The story itself is exciting, and the cultural details felt authentic, although I am ill equipped to judge, of course. Many Albanian words and phrases - always explained in the text - are used, and customs such as the blood feud feature prominently. So too, in the end, does the Albanian tradition of the "burrnesha," or sworn virgin, in which a woman can take a vow of chastity, put on men's clothing, and "become" a man, thereby escaping (among other things) an arranged marriage. The resolution of Pran's vow, in this regard, whilst not entirely unexpected, was nevertheless very satisfying. Just as satisfying was Pran's brief stint as an orator, in which she argues eloquently at the men's council for the continuation of the peace between the tribes, and the outlawing of the internecine blood feuds which had caused so much suffering for all. Given the recent revival of the tribal code, in Albanian society, one wishes that there were such a figure today!

With a story that keeps the reader involved, and a heroine for whom the reader comes to care, Pran of Albania is a work of fiction that deserves to be better known!

[Bob Newman · Rating 4 out of 5]

love and war in 1920s Albania

Elizabeth Cleveland Miller wrote "Children of the Mountain Eagle" for readers aged 8 to 12 years, but this one is for teenage readers. Though it is far from being in the modern idiom--she even uses Shakespearean forms, perhaps to give the flavor of the tribal Albanian tongue---the story can still grip you. Pran, who lives in a mountain village in the northern Albanian highlands, meets a mysterious but handsome youth, Nush, during the course of her daily work. He saves her younger brother from drowning and asks her to do an errand which he will not explain. Meanwhile, the Yugoslavs (read Serbs) invade the Albanian mountains, burning villages and killing their inhabitants, sending a wave of refugees to Shkoder, the nearest large town. Pran, her mother and the two young brothers flee to Shkoder with the rest. Ndrek, her father, goes off to fight. Food is scarce on the front lines so Pran takes a load up to him. She gets lost and overhears crucial information while hiding in a cave. She alerts the Albanian forces who defeat the Serbs. Pran is a heroine. When the family returns to their village, they are nearly destitute. Her parents tell her that she is betrothed to someone, a person she doesn't know. Pran decides to become a "sworn virgin", a unique institution of the Albanian mountain tribes, allowing her to live as a man, but guaranteeing death if she takes up with any man except the original betrothed. Then, wearing men's clothing and carrying a gun, she meets Nush once more. The end, like a Hollywood movie, might be predictable, but it leaves you with a good feeling. This book, like Miller's other, imparts a great deal about Albanian daily life in those days: food, clothing, houses, work, the city bazaars, music, poetry, blood feuds, the sworn virgin, and so on. It gave me a lifelong interest in that small, but fascinating country. God knows if kids even read books now, but if you know one that does, or if you'd like to read a tale of long-ago-and-far-away, then PRAN OF ALBANIA holds a great deal of appeal.

[Thomas Bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a really good book. It is all about bravery. Pran has to be brave in a lot of different ways throughout the book, but she always is. Funny thing how it always turns out for the best, but that's the way these old books are. :) Even other notions of bravery and honor are challenged by Pran.

The book is also exciting, as the Southern Slavs (think Serbia) are invading the northern Albanian lands, like Kosovo, in the early 1900s. Who's going to stop them? I know! A teenage girl. :) t's a fun book to read, and if you're just looking for some adventure that no one you know has ever read, then Pran of Albania is a good choice.

There are some sexist parts, but unlike many old books these are for the most part only cultural - showing how people are (were) sexist. However, Pran even challenges this somewhat. Still, there are hints that it's still better to have a son than a daughter, and that women aren't as capable of having as deep of feelings as men. Also some sexism going the other way - things like men never understand anything deep. Still, not nearly as bad as many old books.

One thing I find frustrating is the mixing of Christianity with Paganism. I mean like how Pran prayed to her saint that the bear's claw she gave to her dad would protect him.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I begin a Newbery, especially an older Newbery, I expect to be disappointed. Based on experience, that has become my default. It's actually great going in with such low expectations because then books like this can pleasantly surprise me.

I loved reading about Pran and her family. I have no prior knowledge about Albanian culture, so I don't know how much is true. According to Wikipedia the author did work in Albania for a time as a child welfare worker. The style of the book made the traditions feel true and it seemed like it was written with respect and love, but those are just my impressions.

Pran is growing up and facing many difficult things. Her family is caught up in the border war with the Slavs and they are forced to leave their home and flee. She is also getting old enough that her parents are thinking about marriage for her. Lots of change is coming to Pran.

The culture, as many were and some still are, was very patriarchal which always makes me uncomfortable and frustrated. Still, the author was able to show Pran being brave and courageous within the constraints of her culture. I loved Pran. She was a marvelously crafted character.

My favorite parts of the story were:
*Pran carrying the sick baby to the city.
*Pran meeting Nush. (all the times!)
*Pran taking her life into her own hands when she felt forced to do something she didn't want to do.

Definitely one of the best older Newbery books!

[Angie Lisle · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't care much for this 1930 Newbery Honor Book.

The story reinforces the idea that women are subservient to men and is built on the notion that girls exist to serve their fathers before growing into women who exist to serve their husbands. The only way these women could free themselves from this system is through religion - the Christian religion, of course. There's no mention of how much Christianity influenced and reinforced this ideal. Albania's pagan history might as well not exist.

And the only way that women could free themselves from this "social" system was through dedication to God; in exchange, the church legally declared these women to be "men" (but who were, in actuality, nuns afforded the legal rights of men).

Now, I'm not a fan of organized religion and I disliked seeing religion portrayed as liberating when, in fact, it helped to oppress women's rights for centuries. But this story fails to mention that. Religion is just another system of servitude that kept independent women from reproducing/passing on their independence, thus ensuring that this system of male domination remains firmly in place. This book almost makes light of that fact. The ending of this book reinforces the idea that Pran's attempt at independence is what star-crossed her love/life (as if women aren't capable of making good decisions). If Pran had just done as her father directed... everything would have worked out at the end. Bleh!

The story is slow and dull, filled with a lot of rural farm descriptions. While the book is reported to be thoroughly researched, I didn't come away with a clear concept of the Albania tribes and I don't feel like I learned much about Albanian history, not without extra-curricular research. This book told me that several tribes were allied together against several other tribes and these tribes fought over land and food. There's very little information about the situation or how much influence the church had on these wars (unregulated and unfair church taxes -tithes- go unmentioned). I expect historical-fiction to give me more history than this book provides; instead, this feels like the church's version of history - which I don't care for because I know the church lies (Doctrine of Discovery).

The only use I could find for this book is that the story illustrates how the world used to be and why it is important to keep moving forward with equal rights in a secular nation - but that's only if parents/teachers/mentors are willing to track down extra-curricular non-fiction reading materials to provide all the details that this book leaves out.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the story of a young tribal girl, Pran (age 14) who lives in the mountains of NE Albania. There is a lot of detail about everyday life, customs, food, etc., but the story hinges on how the women and men interact. Pran and her family are Christian, uneducated farmers. She is the eldest child and has two younger twin brothers - who are valued more, although Pran is well-loved since she has been kept at home (rather than married off) a few years longer than many girls would be. There are hints of tensions between Christians and Muslims, although the Muslim doctor Pran visits is described as "white-faced", i.e. good. The major source of tension are the Slavs who are across the mountains (Kosovo to the E, Montenegro to the N - without a map in the book it's hard to tell which). The other source of tension are the eternal blood feuds between families/clans/tribes. My biggest problem with the book is the lack of historical/cultural background and linguistic definitions; the author has not info-dumped enough. Also I'm having difficulty placing this historical novel in time. Most analyses I've read say early 19th c., but I think it's early 1900s. Albania was part of the Ottoman Empire until 1912/13, but I did see a reference to a Kingdom of Albania in existence before 1912. I can state that Turks are never mentioned, and they would be since much of the drama in the book is between Pran's people (the Thethi) and their enemies (and Turks would be that). Even the concept of Albania as a state is absent in the books. It's Pran's people and their friends (the Merturi) vs. everyone else (esp. the Slavs). I read this for my 2018 Reading Challenge and Newbery challenge (Honor book 1930)

[Archy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a early Newbery Honor book about a teenage girl in the mountain tribes of Albania prior to WWI. The writing is good, the depictions of Pran and her parents are very sympathetic. The reason I gave the book 4 stars instead of 3 was that the end was fascinating. (Spoiler alert) Instead of marrying her betrothed she became a "sworn virgin". After this oath, she dressed as a man and was treated as a man in all social situations. As all older Newbery books, all ends well.

There are still some remaining Sworn Virgins, documented:
http://petapixel.com/2012/12/26/portr...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balkan_...

[Christina Potter Bieloh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This may be my favorite Newbery yet (I may find myself saying this again and again). There's so much I liked about it though. It's historical fiction about a girl who lives in Albania in the early in the 19th century. So first of all, I learned about Albania and its culture. I knew less than nothing about Albania before. This story is about a wonderful family. They face war, and for awhile they are refugees. It's timely in that way in that I really got a sense of the uncertainty, loss, fear and chaos that comes with being forced to leave your homeland. Pran is brave and heroic. There's also a beautiful love story woven in. I highly recommend this 1929 Honor book.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another early Newbery Honor title, and a good one, but my reading experience would have been greatly enhanced by a pronunciation guide and a map. (I still have no idea how some of these names would be said, and I got a little bit lost about where the characters were traveling to and from and where the battlefront was, etc.) The writing feels a bit dated, but the story seems well told. Miller was acquainted with the ethnic groups and regions she wrote about, and seems to do a good job of portraying Albania and its various peoples and tribes - who are rarely found in children's books.

[Melinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one surprised me - not only did I gain much about Albanian culture and tradition, but I also truly appreciated the story's protagonist, Pran. For one so young, she demonstrated great courage, maturity and ability. Some of the errands she was required to do were definitely not easy nor always safe, but she handled each one with determination and strength.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I appreciated this picture of life in Albania long ago, and the well-done depiction of the personal costs of war. The family and characters are warm and full.

[Desiree']

1930 Newbery honor book

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pran is a fourteen-year-old girl when her mother's friend, Gjyl, visits after her husband is killed. An enemy named Mark comes to their town and then leaves. Pran, Nik, and Gjon meet Nush, and Nik almost drowns, but Nush saves him. Pran goes to mass and a feast, and Nush gives her a gold coin to give to Gjyl.

Pran is entrusted to take her baby cousin Kol to a doctor. She meets Nush again, and he warns her that the Slavs are going to attack. Pran's family flees their home, and her father, Ndrek, joins the war. They meet another refugee named Dil who lost her family two years earlier, and Pran happens to find Dil's lost younger siblings, Notz and Lul, who join their family.

Pran goes to see her father and take him food. Pran gets lost and overhears a spy telling Slavs information, and she passes the information on.

After the war, Nush tells Nik he wants to see Pran, but Nik forgets to tell Pran until it is too late. Ndrek betroths her to a man named Prednush, but Pran does not want to marry him because she wants to marry Nush, so she decides to take the vows of a nun. Pran sees Nush again and finds out he is Prednush who she was betrothed to. Everything is made right, and Pran and Nush are married.

I enjoyed this story. The parts about being a refugee were really captivating and eye-opening, and I love a happy ending where something that went wrong gets made right.

[Benjamin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A marvellous book, one that highlights all aspects of Malcor life, everything is portrayed from the constant warring, to the blood-feuds.

For a person that's not acquaintanced with Albanian Highland Mythology and general knowledge this book will seem absurd and even outright unintelligible, but a bit of background knowledge and this book will seem as the perfect compliment to Lahuta e Malcis.

An absolute must read.

[Scott Williams]

7e860d0a-f302-4937-a62e-9d78ea713719

[Michael Fitzgerald]

Albania - ia

[Monica Fastenau · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read the full review here: http://newberyandbeyond.com/newbery-r...