The Diaries of Emilio Renzi
A Day in the Life
Ricardo Piglia author Robert Croll translator
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Restless Books
Published:26th Nov '20
Should be back in stock very soon
This final volume of Ricardo Piglia's autobiographical trilogy explores the life of his alter ego, Emilio Renzi, reflecting on personal struggles and literary achievements against the backdrop of Argentina's tumultuous history.
The Diaries of Emilio Renzi: A Day in the Life is the concluding volume of Ricardo Piglia's autobiographical trilogy, marking a significant milestone in his extensive literary career. Often regarded as the heir to Borges and a leading figure of the Post-Boom generation in Latin American literature, Piglia's final work encapsulates his journey from the 1980s until his passing in 2017. Through the lens of his literary alter ego, Emilio Renzi, Piglia explores the complexities of life in a politically turbulent Argentina, characterized by economic challenges and a vibrant literary scene.
In this volume, Renzi's experiences reflect both the triumphs and struggles of a writer dedicated to his craft. As he grapples with personal insecurities, the impact of friendships lost, and the difficulties of sustaining a living through writing, readers gain insight into the emotional landscape of an artist. The narrative delves into the tension between Renzi's public achievements, such as winning prestigious literary awards and his role as a professor at Princeton, and the private sorrows that accompany his journey.
The final sections poignantly document Piglia's own decline due to ALS, revealing his determination to continue writing despite physical limitations. This intimate portrayal not only solidifies Piglia's legacy as a major Latin American author but also invites readers to reflect on the ephemeral nature of time and the enduring power of literature. The Diaries of Emilio Renzi stands as a testament to Piglia's profound impact on the literary world, offering a rich tapestry of insights into the artist's life and the broader cultural context of his time.
“[A] posthumous autobiographical masterpiece…. [P]rofoundly moving. A meditation on both the accumulation and ephemerality of time, Piglia’s final work is a brilliant addition to world literature.”
* Publishers Weekly, Starred Review *“Much of the fascinating material is to be found in his brief appreciations and observations, such as notes on authors and his reading, but the life-story—of someone who has dedicated himself entirely to literature—also comes across, and it is thoroughly engaging, over all three volumes of this larger work…. An impressive self-accounting of a great reader and writer.”
-- M. A. Orthofer * The Complete Review *“This is the third and final volume of a fascinating hybrid work…. [T]hese ‘Diaries’ could be described somewhat inadequately as a combination of autobiographical fiction, diaristic chronicle, literary and philosophical rumination, and record of ‘the times.’”
-- John Wilson * First Things *“These notes on the end of his life are beautiful, and avoid the heart-wrenching, or the at times strained experience of reading about impending death, and cap what is an utterly remarkable work of literature spread out over an entire lifetime…. The diaries of Piglia do not require a thorough understanding of his oeuvre, or even the history of Latin American fiction, let alone anything so difficult as the ideas of Kant or Nietzsche mentioned. Instead, the diaries require an interest and love of reading, and how we read and write, and how language exists in art separate from society. In this way, his exploration of his life becomes an exploration of all the lives he may have lived, and how one reckons with the enigma of a life constructed through language.”
—Teddy Burnette, Full Stop
-- Teddy Burnette * Full StISBN: 9781632060471
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: unknown
368 pages