Roberto Bolaño's Fiction: An Expanding Universe

by Chris Andrews

Since the publication of "The Savage Detectives" in 2007, the work of Roberto Bolaño (1953--2003) has achieved an acclaim rarely enjoyed in contemporary fiction. Chris Andrews, a leading translator of Bolaño's work into English, explores the singular achievements of the author's oeuvre, engaging with its distinct style and key thematic concerns, incorporating his novels and stories into the larger history of Latin American and global literary fiction.

Andrews provides new readings and interpretations of Bolaño's novels, including "2666," "The Savage Detectives," and "By Night in Chile" while at the same time examining the ideas and narrative strategies that unify his work. He begins with a consideration of the reception of Bolaño's fiction in English translation, examining the reasons behind its popularity. Subsequent chapters explore aspects of Bolaño's fictional universe and the political, ethical, and aesthetic values that shape it. Bolaño emerges as the inventor of a prodigiously effective "fiction-making system," a subtle handler of suspense, a chronicler of aimlessness, a celebrator of courage, an anatomist of evil, and a proponent of youthful openness. Written in a clear and engaging style, Roberto's Bolaño's Fiction offers an invaluable understanding of one of the most important authors of the last thirty years.

Genres: Nonfiction, Literary Criticism, Biography, Criticism, Writing

304 pages, Hardcover

First published July 8, 2014

About the author

Chris Andrews is an Australian translator and writer. He is the first and most prolific translator into English of the work of award-winning writer Roberto Bolaño, whom the New York Times called "the most significant Latin American literary voice of his generation."

Bolaño's short story "Police Rat," collected in The Insufferable Gaucho, was dedicated to Andrews and Robert Amutio, who has translated Bolaño's work into French.

Andrews has also published original poetry, with one collection winning the 2011 Anthony Hecht Poetry Prize.

Reviews

[Jonfaith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perhaps the point of holidays is memories and the sustainability of memories is moments - if this is indeed the case then the moments finishing this on Christmas Eve were a mnemonic success, a celebration of lives within literature. I feel fortunate to have had that experience and while this could have benefited from editing it is an homage to the marvelous work of Bolaño. There is a minute analysis of myriad themes and the characters who appear in multiple works often with altered names. It is an anguished joy. Bolaño is linked with the traditions of Spanish language letters, including the South American Boom and in the context of experimental literature. There is a consideration of writing against catastrophe, one perhaps in step with Blanchot. There are countless other themes examined but alas I am weary.

Likely closer to four stars but it was a transcendent evening.

[Professor Weasel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book will be super helpful for my dissertation. I already know right now that my dissertation can only ever hope to aspire to be as 1% good as this book. But I'm cool with that. I particularly enjoyed the chapters on aimlessness, and on the role of duels and violence. Made me want to reread his short stories and shorter novels again--heck, why not reread everything? Bolaño is just so fucking good; I can't get over it, man.

[Davvybrookbook · Rating 3 out of 5]

In general, this is a very good analysis and interpretation of a writer in his time and coverage of nearly all his works; some are still being published. Chris Andrews does seem very aware of Bolaño’s technical writing (as he has translated 10 of his works) as well as elements of literary design. I skipped over those parts of books I have not yet read, so to this point, it was hard to rate this work of literary analysis higher; three stars is more a rating of the usefulness to me rather than some inherent quality of the work itself. (I have only read Cowboy Graves, “The Prefiguration of Lalo Cura”, 2666, and Savage Detectives.)

However, Chapter 2: Bolaño’s Fiction-making System is excellent. Chris Andrews does an excellent job of outlining a system of writing which incudes 1) expansion, 2) circulating characters, 3) metarepresentation, 4) overinterpretation. For example, his expansion shows the process by which Bolaño wrote Amulet after Savage Detectives to expand on a story of Arturo Belano and Ernesto San Epifanio. In this way, certain characters reappear, though some aspects of their reappearance may be changed. Another paired/expanded story is Distant Star after Nazi Literature in the Americas. One way that certain characters reappear in various novels and short stories can be seen with Lalo Cura, appearing in “The Prefiguration of Lalo Cura” and in 2666 — though he is orphaned, the details of his parentage are quite different. Likewise, while a J.M.G. Arcimboldi appears in Savage Detectives he is mentioned as a Spanish novelist, and so is biographically an unrelating trace to 2666’s Benno von Archimboldi. I’ll leave metarepresentation and overinterpretation for those interested in reading this chapter. It is not long, but certainly interesting.

Chapter 5: Duels and Brawls covers Borges and Bolaño in a fascinating way. Borges’ short stories display more violence (think knife fights), Bolaño’s works more often emanate a sense or perception of violence in everyday interpersonal and social settings. The analysis here is fun and enjoyable for those familiar with both Borges and Bolaño, as there are very clear parallels in their structures and ideas of their constructed landscapes. The holes, gaps and inconclusiveness of Bolaño’s stories operate in such a way that one can imagine if Borges had written longer works, what they may have become.

[Jeff Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a big fan of Roberto Bolano. When I saw that there was a new book out about him I picked it up from Net Galley. Chris Andrews is a translator for many of Bolano's works. As a result, he does offer unique insight into his work and the secret behind his writing. He uncovers a bit of the Bolano myth and reveals why he has been so popular after his death. Having read a majority of his work, from 2666 and Savage Detectives to By Night in Chile, I thought that I would be able to follow along to find the man behind the work. Instead, it is mostly focused on Andrews’ interpretation of his work and why it is successful. While he is certainly the expert, he doesn’t make it where we can follow his logic and it is too granular an examination to really enjoy it.

There are certainly a number of mysteries to both Bolano’s writing style and his own mythology. People are likely to assume that much of what he writes is autobiographical. He finds the literary marketers extending the amount of time he was held by the Chilean authorities after the coup d’etat there (it went from the actual three days, to three months, etc.). This kind of information provides more weight to many of his works and short stories. Andrews also discusses about Bolano’s narrative technique, the always threatening violence, and the tension of impending violence that pervade his work. He also demonstrates how Bolano reworks the same characters into different scenarios. The same characters in Savage Detectives, specifically Ulises Lima and Arturo Belano, often pop up in his short stories and novellas. He makes comparisons to Borges and other writers.

This is a book for hard core Bolano fans. While this book is revealing to the inner Bolano, it is very narrowly focused on the books Andrews has himself translated. This, of course, seems to be an obstacle since Bolano's most famous works, 2666 and The Savage Detectives, are not as extensively covered. This hinders his references and proofs. He proves his point by hovering around books like Distant Star when most people would only pick this up to help decipher his larger works. This is not to say the book isn't illuminating. He is able to capture the myth of Bolano. As is so common with foreign writers, US readers are enamoured of their background and history, assuming their subjects are more or less autobiographical and this is especially true with Bolano. However, I felt that Andrews takes too close of a look at the work, breaking down characters and dialogue at microscopic level and focusing too much on less well known works like Distant Star. As a result, one would also have to be a Bolano expert to truly appreciate his work, which would defeat the purpose of getting a book to help understand Bolano.

[Rise]

With this study, Andrews proves himself to be not only a consummate translator of Bolaño's outputs but a wonderful guide to them as well. His careful translations, in fact, are what must be the ballast that allowed for authoritative commentaries on his writer.

Blog post: http://booktrek.blogspot.com/2014/06/...

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr Andrews leaves the asinine rumors and hyperbole aside and focuses on the hidden structure that permeates much of Bolano's work. Remarkably accessible to the non-academic reader, An Expanding Universe is an essential read for those who are mesmerized by the late writer's prose.

[Joe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know many people who have read a lot of Bolaño, and have been wanting to recommend this all over the place.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really 3.5 stars. The author, who translated many of Bolaño’s early works into English, knowledgeably discusses Bolaño’s approach to fiction across his entire career. I learned some valuable information from this book and I appreciated the career-encompassing approach to thinking about Bolaño’s work. But ultimately I couldn’t give it a 4 because this book just felt so dry - very ironic and certainly not the best way to talk about Bolaño, whose last novel, 2666, was so intense, bursting with life and death and an extraordinary range of human complexity … none of which came across in this book.

[Elena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent introduction, analysis of craft, and close read of Bolaño's work from one of his translators. Super satisfying read, but I didn't finish because I want to read The Savage Detectives next, and Andrews does not warn the reader about spoilers, assuming you're already familiar with Bolaño's body of work.

[Muzzy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably the best single-volume critical study on the works of Roberto Bolano.

[Bruce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Introduction and analyitical work. The chapter on aimlessness was great.

[GONZA · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even after reading this book, which also does not mention it, I am more and more convinced that there is something very similar between David Foster Wallace and Roberto Bolano; but even after this book, unfortunately, have not yet been able to identify with this quid certainty, so I assume it's just my guess-fetched.

Anche dopo la lettura di questo libro, che pure non ne parla, sono sempre piú convinta che ci sia qualcosa di molto simile tra David Foster Wallace e Roberto Bolano, ma anche dopo questo libro, purtroppo, non sono ancora riuscita ad identificare questo quid con certezza, deduco quindi sia solo una mia ipotesi campata in aria.

THANKS TO NETGALLEY AND COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY PRESS FOR THE PREVIEW!

[endrju · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't have much to say except that I would recommend it to all Bolano's fans. The last chapter on Bolano's politics was most interesting to me as I believe it explains a lot about the "void" that structures both 2666 and The Savage Detectives.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a magnificent study of Bolano's work.

[Ian · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must-read for Bolano fans.

[Mauro · Rating 5 out of 5]

The chapter on Evil alone was worth the price of admission.

[A L]

I learned a lot of neat little tidbits, especially on the short story form and how he felt about poetry as a genre.