César Aira
Encyclopedia
César Aira is an Argentine
writer and translator, and an exponent of Argentine contemporary literature
. He has published over fifty books of stories, novels and essays. Indeed, at least since 1993 a hallmark of his work is an almost frenetic level of writing and publication—two to four novella-length books each year.
Aira has often spoken in interviews of elaborating an avant-garde aesthetic in which, rather than editing what he has written, he engages in a “flight forward” (fuga hacia adelante) to improvise a way out of the corners he writes himself into. Aira also seeks in his own work, and praises in the work of others (such as the Argentine-Parisian cartoonist and comic novelist Copi
), the “continuum” (el continuo) of a constant movement forward in the fictional narrative. As a result his fictions can jump radically from one genre to another, and often deploy narrative strategies from popular culture and “subliterary” genres like pulp science fiction and television soap operas. He frequently deliberately refuses to conform to generic expectations for how a novel ought to end, leaving many of his fictions quite open-ended.
While his subject matter ranges from Surrealist or Dadaist quasi-nonsense to fantastic tales set in his Buenos Aires neighborhood of Flores, Aira also returns frequently to Argentina’s nineteenth century (two books translated into English, The Hare and An Episode in the Life of a Landscape Painter
, are examples of this; so is the best-known novel of his early years, Ema la cautiva (Emma, the Captive)). He also returns regularly to play with stereotypes of an exotic East, such as in Una novela china, (A Chinese Novel); El volante (The Flyer), and El pequeño monje budista (The Little Buddhist Monk). Aira also enjoys mocking himself and his childhood home town, Coronel Pringles, in fictions such as Cómo me hice monja (How I Became a Nun
), Cómo me reí (How I Laughed), El cerebro musical (The Musical Brain) and Las curas milagrosas del doctor Aira (The Miraculous Cures of Dr. Aira). His novella La prueba (1992) served as the basis—or point of departure, as only the first half-hour follows the novella—of Diego Lerman's film Tan de repente (Suddenly) (2002). His novel Cómo me hice monja (How I Became a Nun) was selected as one of the ten best publications in Spain
in the year 1998.
Besides his fiction, and the translation work he does for a living, Aira also writes literary criticism, including monographic studies of Copi, the poet Alejandra Pizarnik
, and the nineteenth-century British limerick and nonsense writer Edward Lear
. He wrote a short book, Las tres fechas (The Three Dates), arguing for the central importance, when approaching some minor eccentric writers, of examining the moment of their lives about which they are writing, the date of completion of the work, and the date of publication of the work. Aira also was the literary executor of the complete works of his friend the poet and novelist Osvaldo Lamborghini
(1940–1985).
Essays
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
writer and translator, and an exponent of Argentine contemporary literature
Argentine literature
Argentine literature is the body of literary work produced in Argentina. Among Argentina's best-known and most influential authors are Domingo Faustino Sarmiento, José Hernández, Jorge Luis Borges, Adolfo Bioy Casares, Roberto Arlt, Julio Cortázar, Manuel Puig, and Ernesto Sabato...
. He has published over fifty books of stories, novels and essays. Indeed, at least since 1993 a hallmark of his work is an almost frenetic level of writing and publication—two to four novella-length books each year.
Aira has often spoken in interviews of elaborating an avant-garde aesthetic in which, rather than editing what he has written, he engages in a “flight forward” (fuga hacia adelante) to improvise a way out of the corners he writes himself into. Aira also seeks in his own work, and praises in the work of others (such as the Argentine-Parisian cartoonist and comic novelist Copi
Copi
Raúl Damonte Botana , better known by the nom de plume Copi , was an Argentine writer, cartoonist, and playwright who spent most of his career in Paris.-Biography:Damonte spent most of his youth in Montevideo...
), the “continuum” (el continuo) of a constant movement forward in the fictional narrative. As a result his fictions can jump radically from one genre to another, and often deploy narrative strategies from popular culture and “subliterary” genres like pulp science fiction and television soap operas. He frequently deliberately refuses to conform to generic expectations for how a novel ought to end, leaving many of his fictions quite open-ended.
While his subject matter ranges from Surrealist or Dadaist quasi-nonsense to fantastic tales set in his Buenos Aires neighborhood of Flores, Aira also returns frequently to Argentina’s nineteenth century (two books translated into English, The Hare and An Episode in the Life of a Landscape Painter
An Episode in the Life of a Landscape Painter
An Episode in the Life of a Landscape Painter by César Aira was first published in 2000. Chris Andrews’ English translation was published by New Directions in 2006.-Summary:...
, are examples of this; so is the best-known novel of his early years, Ema la cautiva (Emma, the Captive)). He also returns regularly to play with stereotypes of an exotic East, such as in Una novela china, (A Chinese Novel); El volante (The Flyer), and El pequeño monje budista (The Little Buddhist Monk). Aira also enjoys mocking himself and his childhood home town, Coronel Pringles, in fictions such as Cómo me hice monja (How I Became a Nun
How I Became a Nun
How I Became a Nun by César Aira was first published in 1993. Chris Andrews’ English translation was published by New Directions in 2007.-Summary:...
), Cómo me reí (How I Laughed), El cerebro musical (The Musical Brain) and Las curas milagrosas del doctor Aira (The Miraculous Cures of Dr. Aira). His novella La prueba (1992) served as the basis—or point of departure, as only the first half-hour follows the novella—of Diego Lerman's film Tan de repente (Suddenly) (2002). His novel Cómo me hice monja (How I Became a Nun) was selected as one of the ten best publications in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
in the year 1998.
Besides his fiction, and the translation work he does for a living, Aira also writes literary criticism, including monographic studies of Copi, the poet Alejandra Pizarnik
Alejandra Pizarnik
Alejandra Pizarnik was an Argentine poet.-Life and work:She was born on April 29, 1936 to Russian Jewish immigrant parents in Avellaneda, a suburb of Buenos Aires, Argentina. A year after entering the department of Philosophy and Letters at the Universidad de Buenos Aires, Pizarnik published her...
, and the nineteenth-century British limerick and nonsense writer Edward Lear
Edward Lear
Edward Lear was an English artist, illustrator, author, and poet, renowned today primarily for his literary nonsense, in poetry and prose, and especially his limericks, a form that he popularised.-Biography:...
. He wrote a short book, Las tres fechas (The Three Dates), arguing for the central importance, when approaching some minor eccentric writers, of examining the moment of their lives about which they are writing, the date of completion of the work, and the date of publication of the work. Aira also was the literary executor of the complete works of his friend the poet and novelist Osvaldo Lamborghini
Osvaldo Lamborghini
Osvaldo Lamborghini was an Argentine writer of the 1960s and 70s avant-gardes. His work is not easily lumped into traditional generic categories, as it spans and combines elements of poetry, prose fiction, and theatre.-Life and work:...
(1940–1985).
Partial bibliography
Novels:- Moreira (1975)
- Ema, la cautiva (1981)
- La luz argentina (1983)
- Las ovejas (1984)
- Canto Castrato (1984)
- Una novela china (1987).
- Los fantasmas (1990)
- El bautismo (1991)
- La liebre (1991). Emecé, Buenos Aires.
- Embalse (1992). Emecé, Buenos Aires.
- La guerra de los gimnasios (1992). Emecé.
- La prueba (1992). Grupo Editor Latinoamericano
- El llanto (1992). Beatriz Viterbo Editora, Rosario.
- Madre e hijo (1993). Bajo La Luna Nueva.
- Cómo me hice monja (1993).
- El infinito (1994).
- La costurera y el viento (1994). Beatriz Viterbo.
- Los misterios de Rosario (1994). Emecé.
- Los dos payasos (1995). Beatriz Viterbo.
- Abeja (1996). Emecé.
- Dante y Reina (1997). Mate
- La trompeta de mimbre (1998). Beatriz Viterbo.
- La serpiente (1998). Beatriz Viterbo Editora.
- El Sueño (1998). Emecé, Buenos Aires.
- Las curas milagrosas del Dr. Aria (1998). Simurg
- La mendiga (1998). Mondadori.
- El congreso de literatura (1999). Tusquets.
- Un episodio en la vida del pintor viajero (2000). Beatriz Viterbo.
- Cumpleaños (2001). Mondadori.
- El mago (2002). Mondadori.
- Varamo (2002). Anagrama.
- La princesa Primavera (2003). Era.
- Mil gotas (2003). Eloísa Cartonera.
- Yo era una chica moderna (2004). Interzona.
- Yo era una niña de siete años (2005). Interzona.
- Cómo me reí (2005). Beatriz Viterbo
- Haikus (2005). Mate.
- El cerebro musical (2005). Eloísa Cartonera.
- El pequeño monje budista (2005). Mansalva.
- Parmenides (2006). Alfaguara.
- El todo que surca la nada (2006). Eloísa Cartonera.
- La cena (2006). Beatriz Viterbo.
- Las conversaciones (2007). Beatriz Viterbo.
- La confesión (2008). Beatriz Viterbo.
- Las aventuras de Barbaverde (2009).
Essays
- Copi (1991). Beatriz Viterbo Editora
- Nouvelles impressions du Petit Maroc (1991)
- Taxol : precedido de Duchamp en Mexico y La broma (1997). Simurg
- Alejandra Pizarnik (1998). Beatriz Viterbo Editora
- Las tres fechas (2001). Betariz Viterbo Editora
- Pequeño manual de procedimientos (2007). Arte & Letra.
Works In Translation
- The Hare (1997) ISBN 978-1852422912 (Serpent's Tail)
- An Episode in the Life of a Landscape PainterAn Episode in the Life of a Landscape PainterAn Episode in the Life of a Landscape Painter by César Aira was first published in 2000. Chris Andrews’ English translation was published by New Directions in 2006.-Summary:...
(2006) ISBN 978-0-8112-1630-2 (New Directions) - How I Became a NunHow I Became a NunHow I Became a Nun by César Aira was first published in 1993. Chris Andrews’ English translation was published by New Directions in 2007.-Summary:...
(2007) ISBN 978-8-8112-1631-9 (New Directions) - GhostsGhosts (Aira novel)Ghosts by César Aira was first published under the title Los Fantasmas in 1990. Chris Andrews’ English translation was published by New Directions in 2009...
(2009) ISBN 978-0811217422 (New Directions) - The Literary Conference (2010) ISBN 978-0811218788 (New Directions)
- The Seamstress and the Wind (2011) ISBN 978-0811219129 (New Directions)
External links
- Biography and work (Spanish)
- A conversation about Cesar Aira with his English-language translators on The Marketplace of Ideas