Open Book

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Programme looking at new fiction and non-fiction books

Programme looking at new fiction and non-fiction books, talking to authors and publishers and unearthing lost classics

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Helena Insinger

Open Book: The ‘new boom’ of feminist Spanish-language literature

13/02/2022

The ‘new boom’ of feminist Spanish-language literature

BBC Radio 4 - Open Book, The ‘new boom’ of feminist Spanish-language literature

We meet the new wave of Spanish and Latin American writers who are breaking with the past.

Programme looking at new fiction and non-fiction books, talking to authors and publishers and unearthing lost classics. Producer: Di Speirs

This week Elizabeth Day is in discussion with author Pola Oloixarac, whose new book ‘Mona’ is one of a wave of recently published Spanish-language novels breaking new ground. 

The books openly break with literary tradition in Latin America, and for the first time see writers exploring under-discussed issues such as state censorship and control to shedding the victim narrative assocated with violence against women. Many of the novels are partly autobiographical, partly based on personal experiences, and discuss issues rarely uncovered in Spanish writing before now.

Providing context to this wave will be Valerie Miles, one of the founding editor of Granta en Espanol, one of the leading forums for developing new writers in Latin America and Spain. Valerie herself is an author, translator, and publisher, and has spent her life promoting Spanish and Latin American literature and bringing British and American voices to Spanish-language countries for the first time. 

We have inserts from Elena Medel and Cristina Morales, writers who are also part of the wave exploring new literary frontiers. And a literary postcard from the Guadalajara Literary Festival written by Eduardo Rabasa, the editor of Sexto Pisco, an award-winning Mexican independent publisher which is breaking new writers.

Book List – Sunday 13 February and Thursday 17 February 

Mona by Pola Oloixarac: Translated by Adam Morris 
Easy Reading by Cristina Morales: Translated by  Kevin Gerry Dunn
The Wonders by Elena Medel: Translated by Lizzie Davis 
Granta 155: Best of Young Spanish-Language Novelists 2 Spring 2021
A Zero Sum Game by Eduardo Rabasa: Translated by Christina MacSweeney
Prosopagnosia by Sònia Hernández: Translated by Samuel Rutter  
Jawbone by Mónica Ojeda: Translated by Sarah Booker  
Rabbit Island by Elvira Navarro: Translated by Christina MacSweeney 
Fever Dream by Samantha Schweblin: Translated by Megan McDowell  
Humiliation by Paulina Flores: Translated by Megan McDowell  
Eartheater by Dolores Reyes: Translated by Julia Sanches 
The Dangers of Smoking in Bed by Mariana Enríquez 
Fiebre Tropical by Juliana Delgado Lopera
The Rooftop by Fernanda Trías: Translated by Annie McDermott 
Hurricane Season by Fernanda Melchor: Translated by Sophie Hughes 
The Adventures of China Iron by Gabriela Cabezón Cámara: Translated by Fiona Mackintosh and Iona Macintyre
The Story of H by Marina Perezagua: Translated by Valerie Miles   
Wind that Lays Waste by Selva Almada: Translated by Chris Andrews

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