Mathematical Analysis, Wavelets, and Signal Processing : An International Conference on Mathematical Analysis and Signal Processing January 3-9, 1994)by Mourad E. H. Ismail(Editor), et al

This is a very nice coolection

This is an engaging book, but it's not as good as most of Kadare's work. Two Homeric scholars travel to Albania to study and record that nation's epic poetry. They are met with suspicion on the part of King Zog's bureaucrats, who assume they must be spies. As in all of Kadare's novels, the Albanian people and landscape are evoked with an extraordinary sympathy. However, the Americans, ostensibly the novel's heroes, are surprisingly flat characters. One gets the feeling that Kadare is too attached to his homeland to imagine how an outsider would view it. Still, the subject of the Albanian epic is fascinating, and very few English-language works (original or translated) address it at all. This novel, as well as Kadare's _Palace of Dreams_, provides an enjoyable introduction.

This volume is a delightful story that immediately reminded me of Lord's The Singer of Tales. Two Irish Homeric scholars set out to record the songs of the epic-singers, to compare versions told at different time and/or by differents singers ... does that sound like Lord's research? Here, however, it is the story of collectors of the epics and the internal security officers of Albania that are the heart of the story - a very funny story poking fun at ignorance, fear, position ...

When the Irish researchers arrive, the governor's wife has day dreams of an affair, the office of the Interior Ministry has dreams of snaring the perfect biographer, the governor is out to snare the spies with counterspies who don't know English, a Serbian monk who tries to insure that the epics are recognized as Serbian not Albanian ...

This book is an absolute joy to read - a witty commentary on totalitarian government and the manipulation of people.

Another great work by Ismail Kadare. Albania of 1930s is in this book. His style of writing allows you to be part of each character's feelings and deeper thoughts. You will find the past, the present and the future of Albania and its mentality intermingled with the quest for the survival of the epic song.