New English edition of Borges interviews translated by Clark Zlotchew
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The book, Seven Conversations with Jorge Luis Borges, has been published in this paperback version by the independent press Paul Dry Books of Philadelphia. Its author is the Argentine writer Fernando Sorrentino, who based it on his interviews with Borges conducted in 1972.
Borges, the subject of the book, is considered by many scholars, critics, and readers to be the greatest among twentieth century Spanish-American writers. His poetry, essays, and short fiction have been translated into all the major languages.
This is the second time that Dr. Zlotchew has translated Seven Conversations with Jorge Luis Borges. In 1982, his translation was published in hardback by Whitston Publishing. In that edition, Zlotchew expanded on the notes contained in the Spanish original and, for the benefit of North American readers, added an "Index of Hispanic Personalities Mentioned by Borges."
Meanwhile, Sorrentino has updated his original Spanish version, with new and amended notes, in three editions.
In tackling the 2010 English edition, Zlotchew edited and melded Sorrentino's notes so they would proceed logically from the previous English edition. "It was very complex, and time-consuming," he said. "It took me about three months while teaching my classes in the Spring 2009 semester. But it was worthwhile."
Dr. Zlotchew is a scholar of the literature of Spain and Latin America and has taught in the department of Modern Languages and Literatures at Fredonia since 1975. His title, Distinguished Teaching Professor, is the highest tribute given to instructional faculty in the State University of New York, and is conferred by the Board of Trustees.
The Spanish original, Siete conversaciones con Jorge Luis Borges, was first published in 1974 in Argentina but, because of the overly-frank tone of Borges' political statements, could not be commercially distributed until after the overthrow of Isabel Perón in 1976.
Dr. Zlotchew said the book provides a reliable and powerful picture of Borges. "Fernando Sorrentino did a great job," he said. "He himself is a prolific and talented writer, and at the same time loves the work of Borges, and knows it well. What results from this is a warm and personal glimpse of one of the most fascinating figures of 20th-Century world literature." M.A. Orthofer, in The Complete Review, agreed, saying, "An informative (and readable) set of quite casual conversations, Seven Conversations with Jorge Luis Borges is a very useful book in providing background information about Borges, especially about his literary tastes and opinions."
Paul Dry Books is a small, independent press that publishes lively fiction and nonfiction, always with the aim "to awaken, delight, and educate" . It often publishes out-of-print titles and, more recently, literature in translation. Founded in 2000, the press publishes around 10 titles per year.
