The Borges Enigma
Mirrors, Doubles, and Intimate Puzzles
Published on 18. June 2021
Book
Hardback
314 pages
978-1-85566-349-7 (ISBN)
Description
Explores Borges's supreme literary craftsmanship and the intimate puzzles of his fictions.
Borges once stated that he had never created a character: 'It's always me, subtly disguised'. This book focuses on the ways in which Borges uses events and experiences from his own life, in order to demonstrate how they become the principal structuring motifs of his work. It aims to show how these experiences, despite being 'heavily disguised', are crucial components of some of Borges's most canonical short stories, particularly from the famous collections Ficciones and El Aleph. Exploring the rich tapestry of symmetries, doubles and allusions and the roles played by translation and the figure of the creator, the book provides new readings of these stories, revealing their hidden personal, emotional and spiritual dimensions. These insights shed fresh light on Borges's supreme literary craftsmanship and the intimate puzzles of his fictions.
Borges once stated that he had never created a character: 'It's always me, subtly disguised'. This book focuses on the ways in which Borges uses events and experiences from his own life, in order to demonstrate how they become the principal structuring motifs of his work. It aims to show how these experiences, despite being 'heavily disguised', are crucial components of some of Borges's most canonical short stories, particularly from the famous collections Ficciones and El Aleph. Exploring the rich tapestry of symmetries, doubles and allusions and the roles played by translation and the figure of the creator, the book provides new readings of these stories, revealing their hidden personal, emotional and spiritual dimensions. These insights shed fresh light on Borges's supreme literary craftsmanship and the intimate puzzles of his fictions.
Reviews / Votes
Stephens's hypothesis is tantalizing not in spite of its simplicity, but precisely because of it. For a writer so famed for his cosmopolitan erudition, what could be more counterintuitive - and indeed more refreshing - than locating within the "intellectually dense structure" of Borges's oeuvre "hidden personal gems ... an emotionally intimate expression"? * TLS * The book provides a wealth of detail and is strongly recommended for anyone wishing to gain a deeper knowledge of the rich, strange worlds [Borges] created. * THE LINGUIST * This is a worthwhile read for those interested in Borges's works, especially anyone wishing to learn about the ways in which Borges subtly incorporates elements from his personal life into his fictions. Stephens does indeed succeed in presenting us with readings that take these biographical aspects into account without being overly reductive. * MLR * [...] brilliant observations about particular texts abound. -- David Laraway * BULLETIN OF SPANISH STUDIES *More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Woodbridge
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Boydell & Brewer Ltd
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Cloth over boards
Dimensions
Height: 240 mm
Width: 161 mm
Thickness: 22 mm
Weight
640 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-85566-349-7 (9781855663497)
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Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
06/2021
1st Edition
Boydell & Brewer Ltd
€48.99
Available for download
E-Book
06/2021
1st Edition
De Gruyter
€48.99
Available for download
Person
CYNTHIA LUCY STEPHENS is an independent scholar.
Content
Acknowledgements
List of Abbreviations and Note on Translations
Introduction
Chapter 1: The 'Real' Borges
Chapter 2: Symmetries
Chapter 3: Doubles
Chapter 4: Allusiveness
Chapter 5: Translation
Chapter 6: The Creator
Conclusion
Bibliography
List of Abbreviations and Note on Translations
Introduction
Chapter 1: The 'Real' Borges
Chapter 2: Symmetries
Chapter 3: Doubles
Chapter 4: Allusiveness
Chapter 5: Translation
Chapter 6: The Creator
Conclusion
Bibliography