Jusuf (Isuf) Vrioni (1916-2001)

Jusuf Vrioni (16 March 1916 – 1 June 2001) was born in Corfu. He was the son of Iliaz Vrioni, a former Albanian Prime Minister and diplomat. He studied in France and Italy, where he obtained a doctorate in law.

He returned to Albania in 1939, but in 1947 he was arrested by the communist regime as a “French agent” and sentenced to 15 years in prison. After his release, he worked as a translator, translating into French the works of Ismail Kadare, as well as several books by Enver Hoxha.

Following the fall of communism, he was appointed Ambassador to UNESCO in Paris. In 1998, he was awarded the title of Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur by France. In 2006, the Ministry of Culture, Tourism, Youth and Sports of the Republic of Albania established the “Jusuf Vrioni” Translation Award.

He died in Paris in 2001.