Poetry, Translations

Probable Lives

The writing of Felipe Benítez Reyes, a significant contributor to the Spanish Postmodern esthetic, speaks to issues of voice, persona, and the possibilities of fiction. Probable Lives won the 1996 National Book Award in Spain, the 1996 National Critics' Award in Spain, and the City of Melilla International Prize. A book of heteronyms, the character-poets in Probable Lives read as forgotten or unknown 20th Century authors, all "rediscovered" and compiled by an anthologist who is also the creation of Reyes. Probable Lives tweaks the notion of identity in ways that are both engaging and downright funny.

Girl and the Old Man

by Ángel Ruiz del Valle

After a painting by Agustín Ubeda

A Greek gentleman, in mourning, and a lady.
Sinning, he looks at her. The play of mirrors
makes him think there are other naked
ladies, in the bed, flirting with him.

In front of the old bed with gaudy bedspread
the inquisitive hidalgo, dying,
examines, measures the manola,
his beautiful constant, pinkish and fair.

The pubis, a miniature curly fan,
enchants him. (She stares at the ceiling,
fearing she’s late for her date with the priest)

At last the gentleman, his honor wounded,
crashes into bed with impossible ardor.
The beauty sighs, putting out the candle.

English Translation by Aaron Zaritzky

© BOA Editions, Ltd 2006

Available editions:
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Cloth ISBN: 978-1-929918-80-5
Price: $22.95
Publishing Date: July 2006
Paperback ISBN: 978-1-929918-81-2
Price: $16.50
Publishing Date: July 2006

FormatPaperback , Hardcover

Publication DateJuly 1, 2006

ISBN978-1-929918-81-2

From $16.50

About the Author

Aaron Zaritzky

Aaron Zaritzky was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He graduated from the Creative Writing Workshop at Oberlin College and completed an MFA in Poetry from the University of Arizona. He taught Spanish language at the high school level for two years, and then worked as a language instructor at the University of Arizona. He has read for the literary journal Sonora Review, and he received a Tinker Grant to research Benitez’s use of literary allusion in the Spanish National Library and elsewhere.

Felipe Benítez Reyes

Felipe Benítez Reyes is considered one of the primary figures of Spain's literary Generation X and the contemporary Spanish movement called The Poetry of Experience, though he questions the validity of such labels. One of the most significant contributors to the Spanish Postmodern aesthetic, his work speaks, among other things, to issues of voice, persona, and the possibilities of fiction. Probable Lives , his most highly acclaimed book, won the 1996 National Book Award in Spain, the 1996 National Critics' Award in Spain, and the City of Melilla International Prize. He has garnered the Ateneo de Sevilla Prize for his novel, Humo ( Smoke , 1995), the Ojo Crítico Award from Radio Nacional , as well as the Luis Cernuda Prize and Fundación Loewe Prize. His earlier books of poems can be found in the compilations Poesía 1979-1987 (Poetry 1979-1987) and Paraísos y mundos (Paradises and Worlds, 1996) and his most recent collections of poetry include El equipaje abierto (Open Luggage, 1996) and Escaparate de venenos (The Poison Display, 2000). Benítez considers himself as much a writer of prose as he is a poet--in addition to his many books of poems, he has also published numerous novels and collections of short stories. His translation of T.S. Eliot's book, Prufrock and Other Observations, was released in 2000. Felipe Benítez Reyes lives in his hometown of Rota with his wife, the translator Silvia Barbero.