María Teresa Andruetto: Two recent publications delve into the craft of narration and literary technique
Renowned Argentine author María Teresa Andruetto, winner of the 2012 Hans Christian Andersen Award, has recently published two new books that delve into the intricate world of narration and its impact on identity.
"As if they were fables," published by Random House, and "The Art of Narrating," published by Fondo de Cultura Económica, showcase Andruetto's unique literary approach, characterised by an "amphibious nature," self-analysis, and a conscious attention to her task in writing.
Andruetto's amphibious nature is evident in her ability to navigate between multiple literary and philosophical territories, shifting between genres, audiences (children and adults), and languages or cultural contexts. This fluidity and dual engagement in her writing reflects a consciousness of the borderlands between different modes of storytelling and inquiry.
Her self-analysis reveals a deep reflective process about her identity as a writer and the meanings embedded in language and narrative. Andruetto is attentive to how language shapes personal and cultural identities, often exploring the tensions between selfhood and otherness through her stories. This reflective attitude allows her to interrogate her own positionality and the role of the author in crafting meaning.
The conscious attention to task manifests in how she carefully approaches the act of writing not only as storytelling but also as a form of questioning and social examination. Her literature does not merely tell stories but critically engages with themes of history, memory, justice, and personal and collective identity.
In "As if they were fables," Andruetto explores microhistories that are often overlooked and rescues them from oblivion. The notion of "fable" in the title refers to the residue of thought that emanates from lives and experiences, leading the reader to think about the complex present in a different way. The book features various names and topics, including Albert Camus, Vivian Maier, Rodolfo Walsh, Afro-Argentines, geographical dialects, Ursula K. Le Guin, Vinciane Despret, James Baldwin, the Mulita Festival in Chaco, among others.
"The Art of Narrating," on the other hand, discusses various aspects of narration, including narration and the body, narration and memory, narration and language, narration and women, narration and school, narration and translation, narration and territory, narration and childhood, among others. The book finishes with a quote from film director Andrei Tarkovsky: "What interests me most about man is his availability to serve something superior, his refusal to conform."
Andruetto's political nature, in a broad sense, is undeniable, sustained, and of remarkable insistence. Literature, according to her, is a discipline that constantly questions itself. Inventing is a potential act of resistance and a certain degree of freedom against the machinery of power, as quoted in "The Art of Narrating."
Through her works, Andruetto invites readers to engage in a dynamic conversation about identity, history, and language. Her literature serves not only as a site of imaginative creation but also as a critical interrogation of social norms, historical silences, and cultural identities. Her amphibious nature, self-reflective writing style, and focused attention on the act of writing itself lead her to undertake a dual literary role—as both a storyteller and a critical questioner.
In summary, Andruetto's latest books offer valuable ideas and complex conceptions about literature, reading, and writing, inviting readers to think deeply about the power of narration and its impact on our understanding of the world.
By delving into microhistories and providing critical insights on narration, Andruetto's books, like "As if they were fables" and "The Art of Narrating," reveal her ability to weave together concepts of entertainment, literary pursuits, and social examination, offering readers a chance to explore the river of narration and its influence on identity. These literary works serve not only as a source of books to read but also as a testament to the power of storytelling, prompting us to question, imagine, and reevaluate our understanding of our world.
