the basque writer Kirmen Uribe presents this Thursday the English edition of his novel “Bilbao-New York-Bilbao” in the United States, with which he hopes to give “dignity and visibility” to Basque culture, he told EFE.
The publisher Coffee House Press launches the novel in its version translated from Basque into English by Elizabeth Macklin and which was first introduced in the United Kingdom, explained the also poet.
Uribe was delighted to release the US edition in the hands of a “prestigious” publisher that was looking for “different books” and “fell in love” with his: “It’s every publisher’s dream”assured.
Coffee House Press has included the novel, awarded in Spain with the National Award for Narrative Literature in 2009in the Spatial Species series, whose works take place in special spaces, in this case a flight between Bilbao and New York in which the author, through a character, explores the writing process.
Uribe pointed out that it opened many doors for him in the literary world to receive the prestigious Cullman Fellowship of the New York Libraryfor which he moved with his family to this city where today he combines university teaching with writing.
Uribe, who will soon embark on a tour of the United States to promote this new edition, added that he does not consider himself an ambassador of Basque culture, but he does hope to give it “dignity and visibility” through his work.