When I first though about bringing Borges here, I had no idea of how well spread was his literature amongst english readers. Being as he is, a latinamerican, I presumed he wasn´t too famous worldwide. Some events and conversations have led me to believe otherwise and, luckily for me, this grants me permission to skip some comentaries before his debut in this blog.
That could also make me think that there´s no reason for me to translate his work, which would be transgressing the purpose I gave this blog in first place, but: 1) I already have translated a few pieces. 2) Those pieces I have translated aren´t too well known. 3) This is my blog, so screw you.
A quick anecdote I have comed to know from the vast number of rumours behind big artists, regarding Borges:
There was a sort of rivalry between him and another writer called Ernesto Sabato; at least within their country, Argentina. Based in the controversy surrounding it, one of Sabato´s editors had the terrific idea of putting, in the title page of one of his new books: "Sabato vs. Borges". It was to increase sells, of course. As far as we know, Sabato approved, since such book was published that way.
We don´t know if that strategy worked, but when consulted about this by some journalist, Borges said, or so they said he said: "Curious, I would have never written Borges vs. Sabato".
It outlines pretty well the most intriguing virtues of Borges: being at once innocent and ironic, simple but mysterious, precise and ambiguous.
Cheers, my lucky reader.
No hay comentarios:
Publicar un comentario