Marginalities: Diamela Eltit and the Subversion of Mainstream Literature in Chile

by Gisela Norat

Out of the turmoil and repression of Chilean dictatorial rule in the 1970s and 1980s emerged Diamela Eltit (born 1949), a writer who baffled the country's literary intelligentsia with a narrative work that defied the traditional notion of the novel. Despite reviews that marked her first books as "difficult," "experimental literature," "cryptic," and even "unintelligible," Eltit continued to plunge ahead with writing projects that led to her receiving the coveted Guggenheim award in 1985, becoming the first woman in Chile thus honored.
This collection of essays, written in clear critical discourse, is a practical tool for first-time or hesitant Eltit readers who seek discussion of a particular book or books and are not familiar with the author's entire production.

264 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2002