Outsider Everywhere

Reviews / Votes

'In the 143 lively pages, adroitly translated by Rahul Bery, and divided into short chapters, she intertwines two threads. The first is Gombrowicz's life in Argentina, one of the oddest exile stories, even by the standards of the 20th century. The second is how Argentina received him.... For those familiar with Gombrowicz, Halfon's book is a quirky postscript to his legend. For readers who have not yet discovered him, it can serve as a way into his work.'

- Magdalena Miecznicka, Financial Times 'Writing about Gombrowicz poses a singular challenge for any biographer who chooses to write about him. Halfon takes it up admirably and manages to go beyond the life he lived and the way in which he constructed himself to get to the truth of his character.... A perfect portrayal.'

- Martin Kohan, Revista N 'One of the most interesting voices in contemporary literature.'

- Pedro Mairal, author of The Woman from Uruguay 'With the sensitivity of a keen observer, Halfon speaks of herself when she speaks of the world, and vice versa.'

- Alan Pauls, author of The Past 'Some authors seem to work by following the ellipses of a previously established canon. And there are others who seem to be guided by a sort of intuition, a pulse that is a mix of desire, desperation and fearlessness of the unknown. Mercedes Halfon belongs to the second category.'

- Mauro Libertella 'Halfon's work achieves something that rarely happens in these types of biographical texts: it brings Gombrowicz back to life, makes him walk again through Buenos Aires, allows him to inhabit his everyday life.'

- Imanol Subiela Salvo, Pagina/12 'A book that can almost be read in one sitting, where the reading revives the experiences of the Polish writer and makes us want to seek out all his work.'

- Andres Manrique, ANRed 'An atypical writer herself, as demonstrated by the subtle El trabajo de los ojos and Diario pinchado, Halfon does not sugarcoat the peculiarities or contradictions of her subject. Gombrowicz was a difficult man. Those seeking the origin of the myth will find it, but they will also find tools to think about literature, its behind-the-scenes world, and forms of consecration and circulation.'

- Raquel Garzon, Cuadernos Hispanoamericanos