Obsession and Madness in European Literature

ended

Obsession and insanity are not only two forms that emanate from suffering and pain, but ones that we all carry to a greater or lesser extent. The demand to live productive and fulfilling lives in contemporary society not only makes us feel isolated, but also guilty. The project OBSESSION AND INSANITY IN EUROPEAN LITERATURE (OIEL) aims to give voice to narrators who have explored the pain scattered around the continent, stemming from armed conflicts, colonial endeavors, polarized and intolerant societies, the rise of extremism, alienated existences, friction that comes from tradition and new cultural forms, and the general fear of the future that comes with such convulsive times as the ones we are going through. OIEL is a project that aims to bring contemporary European literature to Spanish-speaking readers in Spain and Latin America. Over two years, the project will translate and publish five high-quality literary works by European authors from four different countries. These literary works connect us with the pain of the world and the effects that the pressure of a society that tends towards uniformity and hyper-demand have on the mind, and provide insight into these topics, which are part of the European cultural heritage. The assortment includes three novels and two short-story collections, primarily written and translated by women, with a focus in European lesser-used languages. The authors chosen are either established in their home countries but less known in the Spanish-speaking world, or younger emerging authors. Some of the works have already been recognized with prestigious literary awards such as the Nordic Council Literature Prize and the Prix Littéraire Le Monde, and have been shortlisted for awards such as the George Orwell Prize and the Booker Prize. OIEL is committed to making these works widely accessible to new audiences through high-quality translations, easy availability, and an extensive promotional plan.