The Polish Book Institute

Zbigniew Herbert's Król mrówek (“The King of the Ants”) was published in Albania. The publication of the translation by Edlira Lloha was supported by the Book Institute as part of the ©POLAND Translation Programme.

The collection Mbreti i milingonave, as reads the title of the Albanian translation, has been published by the Aleph Klub publishing house in Tirana.

Zbigniew Herbert wrote The King of the Ants for the last twenty years of his life and did not manage to complete it. The book was prepared for publication by Ryszard Krynicki on the basis of the author's extant typescripts and notes. Embedded in Greek (and sometimes Roman) mythology, the texts contained in The King of the Ants stem from Herbert's lifelong fascination with ancient civilisation and culture. While discussing mythological motifs, they address the experiences of twentieth century man, creating a highly contemporary book.

Edlira Lloha has previously translated Witold Gombrowicz's Dziennik (“Diaries”) and Ferdydurke with the support of the ©Poland Translation Programme.