Bernardo Atxaga

Bernardo Atxaga, Joseba Irazu Garmendia actually ( born July 27, 1951 in Asteasu, Guipúzcoa, Spain) is a Basque writer.

Career

Atxaga studied economics and philosophy in Bilbao, Barcelona. He first worked as a bank clerk, a bookseller, Basque teacher and as a writer of radio programs. Since 1980 he has devoted himself exclusively to writing. He writes in Basque and translated his works mostly self into Spanish. He has thus an essential part in obtaining the Basque language alive and to make it a literary medium. He was supported by Gabriel Aresti. He now lives in Zalduendo, Álava.

Children's books, poetry, songs

In the Basque Country it was first known for his (previously 25) children's books, but also with his poems (especially Etiopia, Nueva Etiopia ), which were set to music by the most popular singers and Basque are sung. He was a member of the avant-garde group Pott (1978-1983), which also included Joseba Sarrionandia, Ruper Ordorika, Jon Juaristi and other Basque authors. Through its participation in the festival Poetry on the Road are some of his poems also known in Germany.

Novels

Outside of the Basque Country Atxaga is primarily known as a prose writer. His stories wreath Obabakoak is awarded major Spanish literary awards, been translated into more than thirty languages ​​and was made ​​into a film also (of Montxo Armendáriz ). In several of his books, the taboo subject of Basque terrorism is being taken. His novel, Zazpi etxe Frantzian ( Siete casas en Francia ), was published in April 2009 in Basque and Spanish. His latest novel is published simultaneously in three languages ​​in February 2012: Barrokaria, El Luchador, The Fighter.

Reference to Germany

Atxagas work has always also a strong connection to the world outside the Basque Country. In the secondary literature (especially Olaziregi 2005) to Germany and the German - Austrian literature pointed to a special relationship Atxagas. Some of his stories are set in Hamburg and Berlin, some of his characters have German ( if often somewhat distorted ) name, such as Esteban Werfell, Klaus Hanhn, Hans Menscher. His novel Obabakoak should Obaba originally - Hanburgo hot. In addition, can be divided into Atxagas writings allusions to works by Bertolt Brecht, Paul Celan, Franz Kafka, Friedrich Hölderlin, Georg Trakl, Franz Werfel find.

Literary Awards

• Premio de la Crítica for Etiopía (1978 ), Bi Anai (1985) and Obabakoak (1988 )
• Euskadi Prize for Obabakoak

Works (selection)

• Obabakoak or the Game of the Goose ( " Obabakoak "). Union Verlag, Zurich 1995, ISBN 3-293-20061-3 ( trans. by Giò Waeckerlin Induni ).
• A man alone ( " Gizona bere bakardadean "). Union Verlag, Zurich 1997, ISBN 3-293-20238-1 ( trans. by Giò Waeckerlin Induni ).
• Window to Heaven ( " Esos cielos "). Suhrkamp Verlag, Frankfurt / M. 1999, ISBN 3-518-12098-0 ( trans. by Willi Zurbriggen ).
• Javier Gómez- Montero (Ed.): Territories de la Poesía - territories of poetry in Spain ( anthology of seven poems by Bernardo Atxaga in Basque, Spanish and German ), tranvía edition, Berlin 2001, ISBN 3-925867-51-1
• Silke Behl (ed.): poetry on the road. 3rd International Literature Festival Bremen, May 31 -. June 3, 2006 Literature Forum Bremen 2002 ( contains some of his poems in Basque, Spanish and German ).
• Memoirs of a Basque Cow ( " Behi euskaldun asked memoriak "). Fischer -Taschenbuch, Frankfurt / M. 2003, ISBN 3-596-80427-2 ( trans. by Ludger Moers ).
• The son of the accordion player. Roman ( " Soinujolearen SEMEA "). Insel Verlag, Frankfurt / M. 2006, ISBN 3-458-17311-0.

Films

• 2005 Montxo Armendáriz (director): Obaba ( based on the novel Obabakoak ).