Vibrant and innovative, today’s Latin American literature boldly explodes boundaries, and we’re delighted to introduce two exciting Buenos Aires-born authors, Ariana Harwicz and Samanta Schweblin, to ILFDublin. Often compared to Virginia Woolf, Ariana Harwicz is a radical figure in contemporary Argentinian literature. Last year, her first novel Die, My Love was shortlisted for the Republic of Consciousness Prize and longlisted for the Man Booker. Feebleminded, translated into English by Annie McDermott and Carolina Orloff - the second in what she calls her ‘involuntary trilogy’ - was described by The Times Literary Supplement as, ‘celebrating lust and bolshiness with an intensity worthy of Clarice Lispector.’ Mouthful Of Birds is the darkly humorous new collection from Samanta Schweblin, critically acclaimed author of Fever Dream, which was shortlisted for the International Man Booker Prize 2017. The Guardian called it, ‘terrifying and brilliant… Nearly impossible to put down.’ Translated into English by Megan McDowell, it introduces us to people who have slipped through cracks or fallen down holes into alternate realities. In conversation with journalist and editor Aoife Barry.
Ariana Harwicz is one of the most radical figures in contemporary Argentinian literature. Her prose is characterised by its violence, eroticism, irony and direct criticism to the clichés surrounding the notions of the family and conventional relationships. Her first novel, Die, My Love greatly surprised the most demanding critics and was named best novel of 2012 by the Argentinian daily La Nación.
Samanta Schweblin was chosen as one of the 22 best writers in Spanish under the age of 35 by Granta. She is the author of three story collections, El núcleo del disturbio, Pájaros en la boca and Siete casas vacías all deserving numerous awards, including the prestigious Juan Rulfo Short Story Prize, and been translated into 20 languages. Fever Dream is her first novel and is longlisted for the Man Booker International Prize. Originally from Buenos Aires, she lives in Berlin.