Search
An association of writers working to advance literature, defend free expression, and to foster international literary fellowship.
Pen Blogs
Recent Posts
PEN Blogroll
Browse by Subject
View by Post Title
World Voices Blogs
PEN Member Profiles
FAQ
Home > PEN Member Profile

Elena Castedo


TRANSLATES: Spanish

Elena Castedo wrote her first novel, Paradise, after she had become a grandmother, and in an adopted language, English. To her great surprise, it became a critical success, a finalist for the National Book Award and required reading in many university English departments. Her own self-translation into Spanish, published in five countries, won Chile’s Book of the Year award and was a best seller in Spain and Chile for a year.

Castedo has published fiction and non-fiction books, a play, articles, short stories, often anthologized and read on National Public Radio, and poetry in publications such as The Afro-American Review, The New York Times, Prairie Schooner, etc. She’s included in the literatures of the U.S., Spain and Chile. By virtue of having been born in Barcelona she’s also listed in the Encyclopedia of Outstanding Catalans. She was the editor of the Inter-American Review of Bibliography, a trilingual scholarly quarterly, and has taught courses, seminars and lectured at more than 54 universities.

Castedo was born in Spain, was a refugee in France, then later in Chile.


BIBLIOGRAPHY

Paradise
National Book Award Finalist. “ingenious social satire” Atlantic Magazine; “filled with rich descriptions and vivid scenes…exuberant,” New York Times Book Review; “unobtrusive elegance…frank…funny,” Washington Post; “brilliant,” Christian Science Monitor; “a success,” Miami Herald; “enchanting,” Washington Times; “thoughtful, moving and beautifully written,” Raleigh Observer; “mainstream success,” Publisher’s Weekly.

El paraíso
Chile’s El Mercurio Best Book of the Year award. Self-translation into Spanish. A best seller in Spain and Chile for a year (number one for 8 months). Spain’s Book Club selection. Published in Spain, Chile, Argentina and Mexico.

El Teatro Chileno de Mediados del Siglo XX
At the mid-Twentieth century, Chilean playwrights embarked on a quest to create a truly national theater, which resulted in the best drama production in Chile's history.

Home | Site Map | Copyright / Privacy Policy | Contact Us © 2004-2012 PEN American Center. All rights reserved.