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Backstory is the story behind the story—where the protagonists have been, what they've experienced, why they are where they are. It’s the literary ingredient that thickens the plot and enlivens the narrative. It's how we get to know—and connect with—a book's characters.
But [backstory] isn't just for books.
Unearthing others' backstories is one of the best parts of living a life abroad: What brought you here? And maybe as importantly, what’s kept you here?
[backstory] bookshop is where you can get to know—and connect with—characters, both on and off the page. It's the inclusive, community-centered space where swerving paths, bold decisions, and happy accidents can intersect.
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Ver todo- A conversation about tranlation with author Malén DenisBackstory English Bookshop, Barcelona
What is lost and what is gained when translating a novel like Litio? How do you carry over a fractured, poetic voice full of gaps from one language to another? In this talk, Malén Denis reflects on the process of translating her debut novel into English, soon to be published by New Directions in the United States.
From an in-between space — somewhere between the desire to control every nuance and the impulse to let go so the text can live a new life — the author shares doubts, decisions, and discoveries. How far should you intervene? When should you stay silent? How do you trust that the intensity will hold, even when the words change?
An invitation to consider translation not just as a technical exercise, but as an act of writing, of listening, and perhaps, of mourning.
About the author
Malén Denis is a writer and multidisciplinary artist based between New York and Buenos Aires. Her work explores the political role of intimacy and spirituality in late capitalism. She is the author of Litio (Caballo de Troya, forthcoming in English from New Directions), as well as the unpublished Estilo de vida — a hybrid book blending intimate manifesto and essay on addiction, capitalism, and writing — and the album Rosa dorado verde plateado. She has published four books of poetry and numerous chapbooks, compiled in Isla de Metal (Concreto Editorial). Her work has appeared in outlets including The Washington Post, NPR, and Página/12. She is also a creative director at her agency, Trenza.
