Jenny Erpenbeck opens #Spring 2024 with Sloughing Off One Skin, a haunting #ShortStory that explores truth and identity, translated by Michael Hofmann.
We're on the lookout for perspectives that are currently under-represented on bookshelves in the UK and in the US, and material first written in languages other than English.
"Victims of #ClimateChange in #LatinAmerica are bringing their complaints to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. The findings of the court could help shape better policy and laws, saving countless lives and bolstering infrastructure."
📚 Just finished reading: The Motorcycle Diaries by Ernesto Guevara (2021 edition)
The diary of Che Guevara's journey to discover the continent of Latin America while still a medical student, in 1952 on a vintage Norton motorcycle with his friend Alberto Granado, a biochemist. It captures the exuberance and joy of one person's youthful belief in the possibilities of humankind tending towards justice, peace and happiness.
Argentine writer César Aira follows neither the rules of literature nor of literary fame. His work has been translated into 37 languages, Patti Smith says he's one of her favorite authors and he's been named as a likely future Nobel Prize laureate. Yet he lives quietly in Buenos Aires and lets small presses publish his books for free. He rarely gives interviews, but made an exception for Alejandro Chacoff, who spoke to him for The Dial. [Translated by Jessica Sequeira].
Article in Finnish, but very important in current #russia conflict
Kreml uses ”traditional Russian heritage” as reasons to setup paramilitary training abroad. These ”cossacks” are not ethnic #cossacks, but are paid by Russian state to conduct training with live weapons as ”heritage”
Of these Kremlin-funded cossacks around the world, 27000 have already fought in #ukraine
Needless to say, Cossacks are not originally Russian either, but from south Ukraine 🇺🇦
@gimulnautti yeah, I learned the history and present issues from a friend on Twitter who is from one of the federated nation states in the early days of the invasion. I was trying to navigate the #colonialism because I've seen much of it in the #caribbean and #latinamerica.
I was floored about how much I didn't know.
Putin is sending his opposition to the front lines. In that regard, he wins either way. Yet Ukraine has stepped up attacks on infrastructure, which is sound strategy.