(The following is a post by Catalina Gómez, Reference Librarian, Hispanic Division.)
This month the Hispanic Division of the Library of Congress is happy to present, together with the Library’s Poetry and Literature Center, two literary programs that will bring to light the work of two of the most groundbreaking poets of the 20th century Latin America — Uruguay’s Idea Vilariño, and Colombia’s Álvaro Mutis.
The first event, “Celebrating Idea Vilariño’s Poetry” will be held on Thursday, May 12th at 6:30 p.m. (Eastern Daylight Time) in the Library’s Montpelier Room. Poet and translator Jesse Lee Kercheval will read selections of Idea Vilariño’s poetry featured in the spring 2016 issue of Poet Lore and translations of other noteworthy Urugayan women poets such as Circe Maia. Idea Vilariño (1920-2009) was a highly influential poet, essayist, literary critic, and belonged to the group of intellectuals known as the “Generación del 45.” The Library of Congress will be presenting this program in collaboration with Poet Lore, America’s oldest poetry journal.
The following day, on Friday, May 13th at 12:00 p.m. (Eastern Daylight Time), the Library will be presenting the lecture “The Literary Legacy of Álvaro Mutis.” The event will be held in the Library of Congress Whittall Pavilion. Assistant Professor of Spanish Charlotte Rogers at the University of Virginia will discuss the work and legacy of Álvaro Mutis, one of Colombia’s most revered literary figures, author of the acclaimed compendium “Adventures and Misadventures of Maqroll,” and close friend of Gabriel García Márquez. Mutis was the recipient of a number of literary honors, such as the National Poetry Prize in Colombia, the Médicis Etranger Award for the best foreign novel in France, the Cervantes Prize, the Prince of Asturias Prize in Spain, and the Neustadt International Prize for Literature. He recorded for the Library of Congress Archive of Hispanic Literature on Tape in 1976.
We hope you can join us for these exciting events! And for those of you who don’t live in the Washington, DC area, don’t worry. You will be able to access videos of the programs on the Library of Congress Webcasts page in about a month, so be sure to stay tuned!
Request ADA accommodations five days in advance at 202.707.6362 or ADA@loc.gov