The poetess Irma Kurti publishes her new book in Algeria. It is titled “سماء بدون نجوم” (A sky without stars) and bears the logo of Tohfa Publishing House. This poetry collection has been translated into Arabic by Dr. Abdelkadir Kechida, whereas the cover image is provided by Italian photographer Biagio Fortini. The publisher’s press release states: “Algeria’s Tohfa Publishing House has released the third work by acclaimed translator and writer Dr. Abdelkadir Kecihda, titled “A Sky Without Stars”—a masterful Arabic translation of the poetry collection by Italo-Albanian poet Irma Kurti, hailed as one of Europe’s most compelling contemporary poetic voices. The collection delves into themes of existence, love, alienation, and the haunting ache of loss, all while preserving Kurti’s signature symbolism and rhythmic elegance. Kechida’s translation strikes a delicate balance between fidelity to the original text and the creative flair of Arabic literary artistry. The translator describes the work as a ‘cultural bridge between the Arab and European worlds,’ while Tohfa Publishing emphasizes its commitment to bringing globally celebrated literature to Arabic readers.”
The writer and playwright Hamid Oqabi in a review about the poetess writes: “Irma Kurti is an Albanian poet and writer, naturalized Italian, and writes in three languages (Albanian, Italian, and English). She is one of the most prominent Albanian female voices in the diaspora. She has published dozens of poetry and prose books, and her works have been translated into several languages, reflecting a wide presence in the European literary scene.
Her poetry centers on emotionally charged and deeply human themes, notably: love, loss, aging, absence, solitude, and the longing for tenderness. However, she doesn’t present these themes philosophically or abstractly; rather, they emerge through small, everyday moments that lend the poems sincerity and fluidity. A word, a gaze, a flower, a photo, or a pair of slippers become poetic signs of inner emotional states. What distinguishes Kurti’s work is the emotional honesty and her multi-layered identity, as her poems emerge from the intersection of the personal and the cultural, offering a poetic voice that crosses borders without pretense or exaggeration.”
IRMA KURTI is an Albanian poet, writer, lyricist, journalist, and translator and has been writing since she was a child. She is a naturalized Italian and lives in Bergamo, Italy. All her books are dedicated to the memory of her beloved parents, Hasan Kurti and Sherife Mezini, who have supported and encouraged every step of her literary path.
Kurti has won numerous literary prizes and awards in Albania, Italy, Switzerland, USA, Philippines, Lebanon and China. She was awarded the Universum Donna International Prize IX Edition 2013 for Literature and received a lifetime nomination as an Ambassador of Peace by the University of Peace, Italian Switzerland.
In 2020, she became the honorary president of WikiPoesia, the encyclopedia of poetry. In 2023 she was awarded a Career Award from the Universum Academy Switzerland.
Irma Kurti is a member of the jury for several literary competitions in Italy. She is also a translator for the Ithaca Foundation in Spain.
Irma Kurti has published more than 100 works, including books of poetry, fiction and translations. She is one of the most translated and published Albanian poets. Her books have been translated and published in 21 countries.
