| Sunday, May 3, 2009 11:43AM | | | | Atxaga Encounter | Posted By: Jane Ciabattari
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| Tags: Bernardo Atxaga, National Book Critics Circle, Instituto Cervantes, Alissa Valles, Graywolf | Friday after moderating the National Book Critics Circle panel "This Critical Moment," which provided context for the work of a number of this year's PEN World Voices Festival authors, I ran into Basque author Bernardo Atxaga at the Instituto Cervantes. A crowd there was celebrating World Voices with Moet et Chandon and Soanish snacks (paella, tortilla, grilled shrimp, gazpacho).
I shared with Atxaga the remarks Alissa Valles, multilingual translator, had made about his work--including the fact that he translates his novels into Spanish first himself, making it easier for the next step of translation into English. (Graywolf is publishing two of his award-winning novels,The Accordionist's Son and Obabakoak, this year and next.) His poetry, in Basque, is not as available in English. Valles also pointed out that he frequently uses the symbol of the hedgehog, and sometimes writes from the point of view of animals. He nodded enthusiastically (what's not to like....?)
Before heading uptown for his reading at the 92nd Street Y, Axtaga told me his next book is about Nevada. He and his wife and two daughters, aged 10 and 8, have been living there. His eldest daughter, attending school, won an award in English, he said, making him very proud. Nevada, the American West, the mountains, provide a spaciousness and isolation that seem to suit him. Ah yes, Nevada. Reno, Winnemucca, Elko. Far, far from the island from Manhattan. | | | |
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