See also: Drenova

Aleksander Stavre Drenova (pen name ASDREN - definite form ASDRENI , April 11th 1872 - December 11th 1947), is one of the most known poets Albanian, in particular to have written the National anthem Albanian, Hymni I Flamurit (" The Anthem with the drapeau").

This poem was published for the first time the April 21st 1912 under the title Betimi semi flamur (" The oath with the drapeau") in Liri E Shqipërisë (" Freedom of Albanie"), daily Albanian of Sofia in Bulgaria. The same year, the author will include it in his collection of poems Ëndrra E lotë (" Dreams and pleurs") published in Bucharest (Romania).

He had been born in the village from Drenova close to Korça in Albania, this why he wrote in Tosque. He had gone to Greek school of his village but his/her father died whereas he was thirteen years old, and he left to join his brothers with Bucharest, where he became acquainted with the literary and nationalist circle Albanian.

In 1904, Asdreni published Rreze dielli (" Rays of soleil") its first collection of 99 poems dedicated to Scanderbeg, the Albanian national hero. Its second collection, always of 99 poems, Ëndrra E lotë (" Dreams and pleurs") in 1912 was published; it was dedicated to voyageuse the British Edith Durham. The third collection of Asdreni, Psallme murgu (" Psalms of a moine") only in 1930 appeared.

The sonnet was its preferred poetic form.

After a short return in Albania in 1914, Asdreni turned over in Romania, continuing to be interested in it in the Albanian national movement. In 1937, it visited the Albania again, but returned itself from there well quickly to Romania. It is nevertheless in its native village that he died in 1947.

List works

• Rreze dielli (" Rays of soleil" , 1904)
• Ëndrra (dh) E lotë (" Dreams and pleurs" , 1912)
• Psallme murgu (" Psalms of a moine" , 1930)
• Kambana E Krujës (" The Bell of Kruja" , 1937)

See too

• Biography of ASDRENI per Robert Elsie.
• Poems of ASDRENI per Robert Elsie.