10 Facts About Tajar Zavalani

Tajar Zavalani known later in his life as Thomas-Henry Zavalani was an Albanian historian, publicist, and writer.

Tajar Zavalani was the son of Albanian activist and nationalist Fehim Zavalani and Qerime Frasheri from Korce.

Tajar Zavalani's father had settled in Monastir, very active within the Albanian patriotic circles of Monastir Vilayet, close cooperator of the Qiriazi family, and participant in the Congress of Monastir and Congress of Dibra.

Tajar Zavalani took his first studies in the Marist Brothers French Catholic school, and after the bombardment of Monastir during World War I he left for Salonica, where he enlisted in the French lyceum.

Tajar Zavalani started working for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, initially as a secretary of the Commission for the Border Delimitation headed by Ali Pasha Kolonja.

Tajar Zavalani settled in Berlin, and soon-after in Leysin, near Montreux in Switzerland.

In January 1933, Tajar Zavalani returned to Albania, where he was active in the translation of literary works, mostly from Russian and French literature, and as a publicist.

Tajar Zavalani was a member of PEN Club and published in its press organ Arena, and Chairman of ACEN branch of London.

Tajar Zavalani's wife engaged as a representative of the "Free Albania" National Committee after his death.

Tajar Zavalani supported the theory of a non-forced islamisation of Albanians during the Ottoman times.