During Hispanic Heritage Month, September 15 through October 15, I want to highlight one of my favorite literary writers, Alejandro Zambra.
Alejandro Zambra is an award-winning poet, short story writer, and novelist who grew up in a suburb of Santiago during the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet and now lives in Mexico City.
Alejandro Zambra’s latest literary novel, Chilean Poet, revolves around an eccentric community of aspiring poets and poetry aficionados in Santiago and paints a vibrant picture of modern Chile. Romantic encounters, loves, losses, and misfires play out (and are sometimes memorialized in poetry) amid discussions of classic and modern poets and poetry.
The Spanish phrase país de poetas is a particularly apt description of the country of Chile. In English, the phrase translates to the land of poets. The Chilean's love of poetry and their pride in their literary heritage really shine through in the novel. Two Chilean poets have received the Nobel Prize in Literature for their works: Gabriela Mistral in 1945 and Pablo Neruda in 1971. Other notable Chilean poets include Vincente Huidobro, Nicanor Parra, and Roberto Bolaño.
While Chilean Poet is sure to appeal to poets and poetry lovers, a fondness for poetry isn’t necessary to enjoy the story. As a fan of Alejandro Zambra who doesn't read Spanish, I also want to praise the artful translation of Megan McDowell.
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