Misto Treska

Misto Treska
Born	(1914-04-19)April 19, 1914 Treskë,Korçë,Albania
Died	June 23, 1993(1993-06-23)(aged 79) Tirana, Albania
Nationality	Albanian
Other names	Mitre S. Toska
Occupation(s)	Translator, Diplomat (Ambassador), Writer
Known for	Translation ofFrench literature

Misto Treska(19 April 1914 – 23 June 1993) was anAlbaniantranslator, diplomat (Ambassador), writer and politician of Albania during communist regime. He has translated French authors such asHugo,Maupassant,StendhalandDiderotintoAlbanian.He has served in the Albanian diplomacy, particularly in exchanges of cultural relations ofAlbaniawith foreign countries. He has notably beenAmbassadorin Paris. Treska was also one of the prosecutors of the military trial in which Axis collaboratorsLef Nosi,Anton Harapi,Maliq Bushatiwere sentenced to death.

Early life

Misto Treska was born in Treskë,Korçë,on April 19, 1914. He attended theLycée of Korçaalong with other outstanding names likePandi Geço,Vedat KokonaandMahir Domi.Since at his early life, he was distinguished for his active help in the cultural and artistic life of the city. Under the pen name Mitre S. Toska,he published regularly articles and translations in "Rilindja "(Eng.Renaissance) and"Bota e Re"(Eng.New World), the socio-political and literary journals of the time, together with the then distinguished writers, like Sterjo Spase,Migjeni,Petro Marko,Nonda Bulka etc.Also, Treska put on stage plays"Den Politiske Kandestøber"(Eng.The Political TinkerorThe Pewterer turned Politician) byLudvig Holberg,"En Folkefiende"(Eng.An Enemy of the People) byHenrik Ibsen,and other plays byMolière,Jean RacineandVictor Eftimiu,playing at the same time as an actor.In later years, he worked for the Albanian Encyclopedic Dictionary, entries dedicated to the period of the 1920s and 1930s.

Years of World War II

Misto Treska took part in the first anti-fascist organizations of the city ofKorca.In April 1939, he was arrested for resistance against the Italian occupiers and was transferred into the prisons ofDurrës,Zvërnec(inVlora),Krujaand from there toMessina,Italy, where he stayed for two years. Upon release from prison, he joined theAlbanian Anti-Fascist National Liberation Army,the 20thBrigade,where he was ranked as itsCommissar.The lyrics of this brigade would retain his signature. Throughout this period, Treska continued contribution to the country's literary life as a publicist, when his pen against the fascist invaders was felt particularly strong. He attended the Conference of Berati in 1944 and was one of the Albanian delegates to thePeace Conference in 1946.Being a member of the Presidium of theLeague of Writers and Artists of Albania,he submitted for publication novels ofMaxim Gorky,"Malva"and"Birth of a Man",which were received warmly by readers.

After World War II

He was one of the founders of theAlbanian League of Writers and Artists.The opus of his translation is broad and multidimensional, not only as a translator of prose but also as a translator of poetry. He was awarded with various orders and medals in the field of diplomacy and he was evaluated and awarded as a translator several times. He enriched his translation by writing introductions for them, in which he gives explanations for the time they were written and ideas conveyed by the authors.Treska translated masterpieces:Les MisérablesandNinety-ThreebyHugo,La Religieuse(Eng. The Nun) byDenis Diderot,Lucien LeuwenbyStendhal,Bel-AmibyGuy de Maupassant,Colas BreugnonbyRomain Rolland,Le Petit ChosebyAlphonse Daudet,poems byLouis AragonandPaul Éluard,etc.

Translation of the epopeeLes Misérablessaw the light of translation in Albanian about a century afterSami Frashërihad translated it in Turkish. The thenregimewould not allow the full publication of this novel, but Misto Treska refused to step out even a small part. Better not published than to offer it in a mutilated form to the reader – he insisted.For this reason this work remained in his drawers for about 18 years. Treska's translations are to be found inHugo Museum in Paris,together with one of his dedication introductions, titledTranslating Hugo means translating France.

During the years 1957–1974, Misto Treska served as President of the Albanian Committee for Cultural and Friendly Relations with the Outside World. In the years 1979–1981, he was appointedambassadorto France, the Netherlands, Belgium, andLuxembourg.On January 24, 1981, he was selected as an honorary citizen of the city ofRubelles,France. Treska developed close friendship with many French personalities prominent in the field of politics and culture.

Translations

Among the translations made by Treska are the following:

• Victor Hugo,Les Misérables,Quatrevingt-treize
• Guy de Maupassant,Bel-Ami
• Stendhal,Lucien Leuwen
• Denis Diderot,La Religieuse
• Alphonse Daudet,Le Petit Chose
• Maxim Gorky,Malva,Birth of a Man
• Louis Aragon,Le Fou d'Elsa,Selected Poems
• Paul Éluard,Selected Poems
• Gabriel Péri,Richard the Lionheart
• Romain Rolland,Colas Breugnon(This translation is awarded 'First Class Price of the Republic of Albania')
• Claire Etcherelli,Elise ou la vraie vie
• Jean Bruller(Vercors),Le Silence de la mer
• Harry Mulisch,De Aanslag(Eng.The Assault)
• Jean Racine,Les Plaideurs
• Molière,Les Fourberies de Scapin
• French Road Code and Rail Transport (available at the Ministry of Transports and Public Works)

Post Mortem

Misto Treska was awarded First Prize 'For Contribution in Relations between France andAlbania'. In 2004, he is honored with the title 'Honorary Citizen ofKorçë'.[7] In 2006, with the decision of the City Council, Library No. 5 of the capital ofAlbania,Tirana,is given the name 'Misto A. Treska'.In 2010, one of the streets ofTiranabears the name of Misto Treska, in tribute and respect to his work and contribution.

References

Sources

• Hysenaj, Kujtim (2005).Diplomati.Tiranë: Dudaj.ISBN99943-33-31-3.
• Nathanaili, Valbona (2014).Ambasadorët tanë: Pikëtakime të diplomacisë me krijimtarinë.Tiranë: Uet press.ISBN978-9928-190-06-2.