Written Lives

In addition to being a wonderful author of fiction, Marías has translated many authors from English into Spanish. He is acutely conscious, and always has been, of the literary canon into which he has stepped, its origins and its importance. Written Lives is a novel and humorous approach to provide context. The short volume contains brief (typically five-page) profiles of famous authors such as Sterne, Conrad and Brontë. Think of it as a mix of biography and obituary, with the angle being to reveal to the reader something new, yet often implausible — even if factually correct — about each featured author. The portraits are wry and engaging, but never frivolous. An addendum asks what can readers learn about writers from looking at their portraits (paintings of them). Would recommend, not rated.

By Javier Marías