Open letter books has released a new english translation from steve dolph. In scars, originally published in 1969 and translated into english last year, argentine author juan jose saer entangles four characters in a messy knot of murder and misery. Juan jose saers scars is translated by steve dolph and published by open letter books. The author of numerous novels and shortstory collections including the sixtyfive years of washington, scars, the one before, and the clouds, all published by or forthcoming from open letter, saer was awarded spains prestigious nadal prize in 1987 for the event. Scars is a varied and deeply internal novel, political through the amplification of the emotional. The sixtyfive years of washington is not so much about the event that the two main characters missed, but rather a larger span of argentine history including the almost two decades after the celebration and the imprint it left and will leave and consequences it has on a variety of people.
Gwendolyn dawson, author at publishing perspectives. In 1968, he moved to paris and taught literature at the university of rennes. Discover book depositorys huge selection of juan jose saer books online. Everyday low prices on a huge range of new releases and classic fiction.
Juan jose saer primary author only author division. Juan jose saer was the leading argentinian writer of the postborges generation. If one or more works are by a distinct, homonymous authors, go ahead and split the author. Gwendolyn dawson is the founder of literary license. His translation of juan jose saers scars was a finalist for the 2012 best translated book award. His translation of juan jose saer s scars was a finalist for the 2012 best translated book award. The most important argentinian writer since borges. Scars kindle edition by saer, juan jose, dolph, steve.
Theres this filthy, evil june light coming through the window, starts scars, a novel or. Scars by juan jose saer, translated by steve dolph bookforum. How saer names his parts is unusual he uses it to compress the timeline. We use cookies to give you the best possible experience. Juan jose saer serodino, santa fe, argentina, june 28, 1937 paris, france, june 11, 2005 was an argentine writer, considered one of the most important in latin american literature and literature in spanish language of the century xx. In 1968, he moved to france, where he has worked as a lecturer of literature. Saers reading of 20th century argentinian writers such as jorge luis borges and julio cortazar, and of the north american and european canon from herman melville to william faulkner, joseph. The clouds by juan jose saer read online on bookmate. Argentine writer juan jose saer has never caught on in english translation, although he certainly should have by now. Scars by juan jose saer, translated by steve dolph. The famous epigraph that gives the book its title, taken from john. Unlike the other argentine author that i had never heard of until i recently read them cicqtrices juan filloy there is more information in english available on saer and there are more of dicatrices works available in translation as well. Its four parts are divided between distinct firstperson narrators, each tangentially related to one another, each circling.
Set in the city of santa fe, argentina, the novel is divided into four long sections, each narrated by a different character. Scars by juan jose saer, translated from the original spanish by. Covering five months in the early 60s, the book tracks four different narrators as they converge on the same murdersuicide. The independent juan jose saers scars explores a crime committed by luis fiore. His voiceintense, measured, meticulous in its details, analytical and strongly contemporarytakes the reader back some sixty years earlier, when, as a thirteenyearold orphan. Buy one before, the by juan jose saer from amazons fiction books store. He settled in paris in 1968, and began teaching at the university of rennes. Since 1994, five of his twelve novels have been translated, with his lauded the witness coming to us via margaret jull costa, the worldclass translator of jose saramago and javier marias.
Juan jose saers novel scars might well qualify as such as work. Saer, who died in 2005, is considered one of argentinas most important writers, alongside juan luis borges and julio cortazar. Juan jose saers scars explores a crime committed by a laborer who shot his w. Saers rhythmic, philosophical novel scars is the second title in a three translation project courtesy of open letter books. Herewith, an excerpt from juan jose saers novel scars originally published in argentina in 1969. Scars, scars, and more scars by chad post may 31st, 2012 articles 0 comment over at numero cinq a warm place on a cruel web theres a great feature on scars by juan jose saer, a book that i recently claimed in an interview was my favorite open letter book ever. Juan jose saer author agencia literaria schavelzon graham. The one before by juan jose saer overdrive rakuten. Juan jose saer s scars explores a crime committed by a laborer who shot his w. Jun 06, 2012 now, seven years after his death, it is a commonplace to tout juan jose saer as one of the twentieth centurys greatest argentine writers. The sixtyfive years of washington epub steve dolph. Juan jose saer 19372005, born in santa fe, argentina, was the leading argentinian writer of the postborges generation. Four spokes radiate outwards from the novels murderous hub, each one comprising a standalone.
Saer s reading of 20th century argentinian writers such as jorge luis borges and julio cortazar, and of the north american and european canon from herman melville to william faulkner, joseph. Juan jose saers scars, first printed in 1969, has been translated into english for the first time. Scars by juan jose saer overdrive rakuten overdrive. Juan jose saers scars is a beautiful, dark lesson in. Dec 21, 2012 excerpt from juan jose saers scars, translated by steve dolph, which everyone should read. His translation of juan jose saer s scars was a finalist for the 2012. Five of his novels are available from open letter books. Apr 22, 20 juan jose saer has set his novel, scars, in a completely different time and place. The vast narrative achievement of juan jose saer, considered one of the maximum expressions of contemporary literature in spanish, consists of twelve novels, five collections of stories, several essay collections and one book of poetry. Roanne kantor is a doctoral student in comparative literature at the university of texas at austin. Scars ebook by juan jose saer 9781934824986 rakuten kobo. Scars by juan jose saer meet your next favorite book. Juni 2005 in paris war ein argentinischer schriftsteller. N j furl the tragedy of a mans trip duck hunting with his wife and too much gin is told from four perspectives.
Saer s novels partake of european and american literary traditionshe lived in france. Jan 02, 2012 nonetheless, scars delivers the rare combination of entertaining suspense and thoughtprovoking, intelligent writing. Juan jose saer was born in argentina in 1937 and is considered one of argentinas leading writers of the postborges generation. Saers novels partake of european and american literary traditionshe lived in france. The author of numerous novels and shortstory collections including sixtyfive years of washington, scars, the one before, the clouds, all being published by open letter, saer was awarded. Saers rhythmic, philosophical novel scars is the second title in a threetranslation project courtesy of open letter books. Luis fiore just shot his wife in the face after a day of hunting with his family. Juan jose saer s scars, first printed in 1969, has been translated into english for the first time. Scars by saer, juan jose and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The witness explores the relationship between existence and description, foreignness and cultural identity. Steve dolph is the founder of calque, a journal of literature in translation. Juan jose saer is currently considered a single author.
Im officially underway in my effort to read most probably not all of this years best translated book award longlist its a very long list, at 25 titles the complete list here. Juan jose saer was an argentine writer, considered one of the most important in latin. Scars by juan jose saer, translated from the original spanish. And which i qualified by saying that my mind will change by. He is considered the most important writer of argentina after jorge luis borges according to martin kohan and the best argentine writer of the second half. Scars and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle. Saer was a prolific writer of novels, stories and criticism.
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