Foreword

The fiction in this issue is profoundly diverse, ranging from an ironic and demanding story by Pola Oloixarac, which dissects the political and moral shortcomings of the preceding generation, to the symbolism of Sònia Hernández and the clarity and outspokenness of Lucía Puenzo. Elvira Navarro deconstructs the final hours of a doomed relationship, while Samanta Schweblin’s original voice turns the kaleidoscope of narrative suggestion slightly askew.

Many of the male writers represent women in a less passive and traditional role than have previous generations, or write in the first person as female narrators. Thus, Rodrigo Hasbún explores a couple’s sentimental unravelling from the points of view of both characters and Alberto Olmos describes the desolation and emptiness of his main character, a female consumer in the frozen limbo of modern-day life. Federico Falco’s story explores the hidden motivations of a young girl infatuated with Mormon missionaries in the Argentinian provinces, and Andrés Barba writes about female isolation and the extremes of a warped relationship to the body.

Spanish readers will recognize the trademark style of Patricio Pron and the intense technical innovation of Carlos Labbé. Pablo Gutiérrez, Alejandro Zambra and Javier Montes all have in common an almost Poundian purification of the dialect of the tribe. Andrés Neuman explores the language as an outsider – an Argentinian who has come of age in Granada – in a story about hatred between university professors. Matías Néspolo, Andrés Felipe Solano and Santiago Roncagliolo delight in particular locations. There is a strong sense of revision of various sentimental customs and literary traditions in the pieces by Antonio Ortuño, Andrés Ressia Colino, Oliverio Coelho and Carlos Yushimito. Many of them have chosen to live in foreign countries or are naturally more open, thanks to their backgrounds, to influences beyond the Spanish-speaking world.

With this selection, Granta and Granta en español aim to seal a pact – a secret handshake of sorts – with the reader, which we hope will prove the value of our shared references. In ten years’ time we will see if our choices were correct, how many of the writers in this collection will have lived up to their promise, how many of them will endure.

We wish to thank Luigi Spagnol and Stefano Mauri for their sponsorship of this project through Duomo Ediciones, the members of the jury for their willingness and endurance, and Angels Balaguer, Laia Salvat, Doris Castellanos and Ella Sher for their indispensable help.

– Aurelio Major and Valerie Miles
September 2010