Bernardo Atxaga
Encyclopedia
Bernardo Atxaga (pseudonym
of Joseba Irazu Garmendia) is a Basque
writer and self-translator
.
, Gipuzkoa, Basque Country
), in 1951. He received a diploma in economics
from the University of Bilbao
, and studied philosophy
at the University of Barcelona
. He worked as an economist, bookseller, professor of the Basque language, a publisher, and a radio scriptwriter until 1980 when he dedicated himself completely to writing.
His first text was published in 1972 in an anthology of Basque authors. His first short story, Ziutateaz ("About The City"), was published in 1976. His first collection of poetry, Etiopia ("Ethiopia
"), appeared in 1978. He has written plays, song lyrics, novels and short stories. His book of short stories, Obabakoak ("Individuals and things of Obaba"), published in 1988 won him much fame and several prizes, such as Spain's National Literature Prize. So far, the book has been translated into more than 20 languages.
Atxaga generally writes in the Basque language, Euskara, but translates his works into Spanish as well. Following the example of Obabakoak, several of his other works have been translated into other languages.
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
of Joseba Irazu Garmendia) is a Basque
Basque people
The Basques as an ethnic group, primarily inhabit an area traditionally known as the Basque Country , a region that is located around the western end of the Pyrenees on the coast of the Bay of Biscay and straddles parts of north-central Spain and south-western France.The Basques are known in the...
writer and self-translator
Self-translation
Self-translation is a translation of a source text into a target text by the writer of the source text. Self-translation occurs in various writing situations...
.
Biography
Atxaga was born in AsteasuAsteasu
Asteasu is a town located in the province of Gipuzkoa, in the autonomous community of Basque Country, in the north of Spain.-External links:* Information available in Spanish and Basque.* Information available in Spanish...
, Gipuzkoa, Basque Country
Basque Country (autonomous community)
The Basque Country is an autonomous community of northern Spain. It includes the Basque provinces of Álava, Biscay and Gipuzkoa, also called Historical Territories....
), in 1951. He received a diploma in economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
from the University of Bilbao
Bilbao
Bilbao ) is a Spanish municipality, capital of the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country. With a population of 353,187 , it is the largest city of its autonomous community and the tenth largest in Spain...
, and studied philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
at the University of Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
. He worked as an economist, bookseller, professor of the Basque language, a publisher, and a radio scriptwriter until 1980 when he dedicated himself completely to writing.
His first text was published in 1972 in an anthology of Basque authors. His first short story, Ziutateaz ("About The City"), was published in 1976. His first collection of poetry, Etiopia ("Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
"), appeared in 1978. He has written plays, song lyrics, novels and short stories. His book of short stories, Obabakoak ("Individuals and things of Obaba"), published in 1988 won him much fame and several prizes, such as Spain's National Literature Prize. So far, the book has been translated into more than 20 languages.
Atxaga generally writes in the Basque language, Euskara, but translates his works into Spanish as well. Following the example of Obabakoak, several of his other works have been translated into other languages.
Novels
- Obabakoak (1988) (English language edition, translated by Margaret Jull Costa, published in 1992 by HutchinsonHutchinson (publisher)Hutchinson & Co. was an English book publisher, founded in 1887. The company merged with Century Publishing in 1985 to form Century Hutchinson, and was folded into the British Random House Group in 1989, where it remains as an imprint in the Cornerstone Publishing division...
, London) - Behi euskaldun baten memoriak ("Memoirs of a Basque Cow", Pamiela, 1991)
- Gizona bere bakardadean (Pamiela, 1993; "The Lone Man", English version by Margaret Jull CostaMargaret Jull CostaMargaret Jull Costa is a translator of Portuguese and Spanish fiction and poetry, including the works of Nobel Prize winner José Saramago, Eça de Queiroz, Fernando Pessoa, Javier Marías and José Régio.-Works and awards:...
, Harvill 1996) - Zeru horiek (1996; "The Lone Woman", English version by Margaret Jull Costa, Harvill, 1999)
- Soinujolearen semea (2003; "The Accordionist's Son", English version by Margaret Jull Costa, Harvill Secker, 2007)
- Zazpi etxe Frantzian (2009; "Seven Houses in France", English version by Margaret Jull Costa, Harvill Secker, 2011)
Short stories
- Bi anai ("Two Brothers", Erein, 1985)
- Bi letter jaso nituen oso denbora gutxian ( "Two letters", Erein, 1985)
- Henry Bengoa inventarium, Sugeak txoriari begiratzen dionean, Zeru horiek ("Henry bengoa inventarium. When the Snake looks at the Birds, The Lone Woman", Erein, 1995)
- Sara izeneko gizona ("The Man Named Sara", Pamiela, 1996)
Children's books
- Chuck Aranberri dentista baten etxean ("Chuck Aranberri At a Dentist", Erein, 1985)
- Nikolasaren abenturak, Ramuntxo detektibe ("Adventures of Nicholas, Ramuntxo Detective", Elkar 1979)
- Siberiako ipuin eta kantak ("Stories and Songs of Siberia", Erein)
- Jimmy Potxolo, Antonino apreta, Asto bat hipodromoan, Txitoen istorio, Flannery eta bere astakiloak (Elkar)
- Xolak badu lehoien berri (Erein, 1995),
- Xola eta basurdeak ("Xola and the Wild Boars", Erein 1996) - won the Basque Children's Literature Prize en 1997
- Mundua eta Markoni ("The World and Markoni", BBK fundazioa, 1995)