Sunday, May 7, 2017

“Conversations- Volume 1” with Jorge Luis Borges and Osvaldo Ferrari (translated by Jason Wilson)

Borges never wrote a piece of fiction or poetry beyond twenty pages. These transcribed radio conversations show that he could still pack a lot of weight into just a few words. The topics range from his literary friends (and enemies), to travel, to what it means to be Argentinian and/or South American, to the meaning of dreams, to going blind, to Dante, to Melville, and beyond. Each self-contained broadcast is a joy in and of itself, but the collection shows the width and depth of Borges’ knowledge, while being relayed in his unique brand of ironic humor. Ferrari more than holds his own in the exchange of banter and pushes Borges both where he does and where he does not want to go. Although recorded in the 1980s, the themes and commentaries still ring relevant in today’s literary scene and geopolitical climate.

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