Javier Marias in the Financial Times
I’m a big Marias fan, and can’t wait for the third volume of Your Face Tomorrow to be translated into English. In the meantime, the Financial Times* has an interesting article on Marias, aka King Xavier I of Redonda:
Earlier this month Poison, Shadow and Farewell, a final, third volume of Your Face Tomorrow was published, as yet only in Spanish . I arrive at Marías’ flat in Madrid a couple of minutes after the author’s copies have been delivered. We stand in the entrance hall surveying the pile of books. I pick one up. My wrist buckles.
“Seven hundred and seven pages ,” says Marías. “Shorter in English.”
“Goodness,” I say, hefting the wodge of pages. “You’ve outdone Tolstoy.”
“Never mind Tolstoy. Don Quixote is 1,200 pages. Mine is over 1,600 pages. I have beaten Cervantes.” He smiles. “Not in quality, of course, only in extension.” He smiles more. “It’s a terrible boldness on my part.”
- Why is it that business publications have some of the best arts sections?
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