Obabakoak by Bernardo Atxaga, trans. Margaret Jull Costa

Join us for our next discussion as we explore Obabakoak by Bernardo Atxaga, a landmark work from Basque literature.

Originally published in Basque in 1988 and translated into English in 1992, Obabakoak is a celebrated collection of interconnected stories set around the imaginary village of Obaba. Its blend of local colour, imagination and metafiction has made it one of the most internationally successful books ever written in Basque. 

Rather than a traditional novel, the book brings together a series of narrative pieces - some grounded in everyday life, others wryly philosophical - all connected by Atxaga’s distinctive voice and his reflections on storytelling itself.

It won Spain’s National Prize for Narrative and has been translated into many languages, helping to introduce Basque writing to readers around the world. 

Venue: Gulp Fiction worked out really well the last time, so this will probably be our regular.

Discussion questions: I’ll share these about one week before the event to give everyone time for reflection.

Where to buy: The novel can be pricey on some shops (such as Blackwells), but it’s cheaper on sites like Hive and World of Books.