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"Correspondencias" contains the letters exchanged between Bernardo Atxaga and Bashkim Shehu
2016-12-02 ¦ Publications
As part of the Chekhov vs. Shakespeare program sponsored by Donostia San Sebastían 2016, different writers exchanged letters over the course of a few months earlier in the year, reflecting on literature, conflict, and the role of the writer. These correspondences have been published in a series of volumes, one of which includes the epistolary relationship between Bernardo Atxaga and Albanian writer Bashim Shehu. The letters are published by Erein under the title Correspondencias.
Donostia San Sebastián 2016 put forward a proposal called Chekhov vs. Shakespeare to eight Basque writers. The purpose was to promote an exchange of letters with international authors of prestige, focusing on the theme of conflict. Once the exchanges are finalized, each pairing’s letters will be published in a volume. The eight pairs of writers will make public appearances in San Sebastián in November and December.
One of the first meetings was between Atxaga and Shehu. The volume was published by Erein under the title Korrespondentziak - Korrespondime - Correspondencias.
“Two literary visions meet in conflicts like the one in the Middle East: one is the poetic justice of Shakespeare, where nobody compromises, principles and honor prevail above all else, including life, but the stage is covered in blood; the other is the sad human justice of Chekhov, where characters argue over their disagreements, resolve them, and go home feeling quite frustrated. But they’re alive.”
The above reflection by Amos Oz inspired this literary project in which European writers exchange letters about literature, conflict, and the role of writers. Bernardo Atxaga, Harkaitz Cano, Eider Rodriguez, Luisa Etxenike, Laura Mintegi, Arantxa Urretabizkaia, Fernando Aramburu and Angel Erro nurture this epistolary conversation about communities, stories and literary practices with writers Bashkim Shehu, Dubravka Ugresic, Belén Gopegui, Mircea Cartarescu, Birgit Vanderbeke, Menna Elfyn, Héctor Abad and Patrik Ourednik.