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A Dictionary of Albanian Religion, Mythology and Folk Culture. By Robert Elsie. London: C. Hurst and Co., 2001. 357 pp. L48.00. ISBN 1-8506-5570-7
In view of this book's highly ambitious scope in covering not only religion, but mythology and folk culture in Albania, my excitement was mixed with some initial reservations. However, Elsie has done a splendid job and has compiled a wealth of hitherto inaccessible information in a single compact volume. The three principal areas of Albanian culture, religion, mythology and folk culture ("history" might also have been included in the title), are blended harmoniously and often inextricably linked. For instance, many entries on saints combine religious history with their legends, not to mention rituals attached to their festivals.
As well as a great shqiptarofil, or Albanophile, Elsie is a brilliant Albanologist and in many cases, his knowledge and erudition are unsurpassed. The publisher is also to be congratulated on producing such a work and for the meticulous care taken with the Albanian orthography. There are well over six hundred entries (about half of which are duplicated as cross-references in English-a great help in locating Albanian-word entries). Entries follow the English, rather than Albanian, alphabetical order. For instance, Gjishto is found before Grabofq and Shemra is before Syqenez (not after, as they would appear in an Albanian dictionary).
In addition to the standard Albanian terms (mostly similar to the Tosk dialect), Elsie often provides us with the variant forms of Gegerishte (the Gheg dialect of northern Albania). The regions of Albania are...