Description
AN UNPAID DEBT (SPANISH/BASQUE EDITION)
Book Summary
This bilingual anthology brings together eleven prominent Basque poets who have translated a selection of poems by Blas de Otero, one of the essential names in 20th-century Spanish poetry, into Basque. The volume, which takes its title from the poem "Euskera egin dezagun," is a tribute to the mother tongue that the author always regretted not knowing. Enriched with an unpublished photo album, the book offers a poetic dialogue between generations, with translations by figures such as Gabriel Aresti, Bernardo Atxaga, and Joseba Sarrionandia, and is supported by the Blas de Otero Foundation and Euskaltzaindia.
What is it about?
Eleven contemporary Basque poets have selected and translated a poem by Blas de Otero into Basque, forming an anthology that celebrates the author's bond with the Basque language. The title alludes to the "unpaid debt" [letra impagada] that Otero mentions in his poem "Euskera egin dezagun," referring to the mother tongue he could never master and which he always felt as a personal debt. The work includes the participation of Gabriel Aresti, a brotherly friend and Otero's first translator into Basque, alongside voices such as Bernardo Atxaga, Joseba Sarrionandia, Miren Agur Meabe, Kirmen Uribe, and Harkaitz Cano, among others. The volume is completed with an unpublished photo album that provides a visual testimony of the poet's life and context.
Main themes
- Bilingual poetry and literary translation between Spanish and Basque
- Tribute to Blas de Otero and his relationship with the Basque language
- Linguistic identity and the feeling of a debt to the mother tongue
- Intergenerational dialogue between contemporary Basque poets
- Unpublished visual documentation through a photo album
Who is it recommended for?
This book is aimed at readers interested in the poetry of Blas de Otero and contemporary Basque literature. It is especially relevant for those studying the work of the author of "Pido la paz y la palabra," as well as for those who value poetic translation and dialogue between languages. It will also be of interest to followers of current Basque poetry, given that it brings together key figures such as Bernardo Atxaga, Joseba Sarrionandia, and Kirmen Uribe.
What this book offers
- A unique bilingual anthology that recovers Blas de Otero's relationship with Basque through translations by renowned poets
- An unpublished photo album that offers a visual perspective on the poet's life
- Institutional backing from the Blas de Otero Foundation and Euskaltzaindia, ensuring the quality and rigor of the edition
- An opportunity to explore Otero's poetry from a new linguistic and cultural perspective
Technical specifications
- Author: OTERO, BLAS DE
- Publisher: EL GALLO DE ORO
- Language: Spanish
- Topic: POETRY
- Collection: BLAS DE OTERO
- Publication date: October 2022
- Number of pages: 75
- Weight: 255 g
Editorial assessment
This anthology represents a bridge between two poetic traditions and a heartfelt tribute to the figure of Blas de Otero. The selection of translators, which includes some of the most relevant names in contemporary Basque poetry, brings a diversity of voices and styles, while the unpublished photo album adds significant documentary value. It is a work that will interest both specialists in Otero's work and readers who wish to approach Basque poetry from a bilingual perspective.