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The Azure Cloister – Thirty–Five Poems

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The Azure Cloister – Thirty–Five Poems presents new translations of poems by Carlos Germán Belli, a prominent Peruvian poet known internationally. This bilingual edition offers thirty-five contemplative verses that explore themes of injustice, confinement, freedom, hope, and the vibrancy of life. Belli's poetry balances a dark, ironic view of the world with moments of joy and faith in language and artistic form, moving from paralysis to the ease symbolised by the 'azure cloister' of a bird in flight.

The translations by Karl Maurer carefully retain Belli's original meter and complex syntax, capturing the distinctive poetic language that spans colloquial Peruvian slang and the intricate style of seventeenth-century Spanish. The volume includes notes and reflections, providing readers with insight into both Belli's work and the craft of translating contemporary Spanish verse.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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This collection is ideal for readers interested in contemporary and world poetry, particularly those drawn to Latin American literature and translation studies. It will also appeal to enthusiasts of rich, complex poetic language and themes of social justice and personal freedom.

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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

New translations of poems by prominent Peruvian poet Carlos Germán Belli.

This selection of poems by internationally renowned Peruvian poet Carlos Germán Belli tempers a dark, ironic vision of worldly injustice with the "red midnight sun" of hope. Belli's contemplative verses express faith in language, in bodily joy, and in artistic form. These thirty-five poems explore public and domestic spaces of confinement and freedom, from paralysis to the ease of a bird in its "azure cloister."

Translations by Karl Maurer retain Belli's original meter, follow his complex syntax, and meet the challenges of his poetic language, which ranges from colloquial Peruvian slang to the ironic use of seventeenth-century Spanish. This volume also includes notes and reflections on Belli and on the art of translation. Beyond introducing American readers to a major presence in world poetry, The Azure Cloister offers a fresh approach to the translation of contemporary verse in Spanish in this bilingual edition.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Praised for its lyrical power and imaginative audacity, Belli's poetry is described as a renewal and enrichment of language, as well as a protest against inequalities. Harriet of Poetry Foundation highlights his ability to evoke timeless and ineffable human experiences through complex Baroque syntax, while Mario Vargas Llosa, Nobel laureate, lauds Belli as a new and indispensable voice who transforms harsh realities into poetic beauty.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780997228793

Publisher: Swan Isle Press

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 18 March 2022

Country: United States

Imprint: Swan Isle Press

Audience: Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 12.0mm

Width: 155.0mm

Height: 226.0mm

Weight: 248g

Pages: 140

About the Author

Carlos Germán Belli, born in Lima, Perú, in 1927, is considered one of the most prominent poets of his generation in Latin America and Spanish literature. He has published over twenty-five books, has received a Guggenheim grant, honored with the Pablo Neruda Prize in Ibero-American Poetry, and was nominated for the Nobel Prize in 2007. Karl Maurer (1948–2015) was professor of classics at the University of Dallas. He is the author of Interpolation in Thucydides and has translated works by Borges, Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, Jacob Balde, and Virgil, among others. Christopher Maurer is professor of Spanish at Boston University. He is editor and translator of Sebastian’s Arrows: Letters and Mementos of Salvador Dalí and Federico García Lorca, New Letters to a Young Poet by Joan Margarit, and The Complete Perfectionist by Juan Ramón Jiménez, all published by Swan Isle Press.

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