Juan Gelman (Books)

Juan Gelman Books

Juan Gelman stands as one of the most widely read and influential poets in the Spanish language. His poetry, often imbued with a critical and social dimension, reflects his engaged stance within the Argentine intellectual landscape. Gelman's distinctive style lies in its fusion of lyricism with urgent social content, establishing him not merely as a literary figure but also a moral one. His work, translated into numerous languages, is considered seminal to contemporary Hispanic poetry.

Oxen Rage

392 pages
14 hours of reading

4.5(2)Add rating

Poetry. Latino/Latina Studies. Translated from Spanish by Lisa Rose Bradford. Bilingual Edition. In this work, a bull realizes his fate as a castrated ox, momentarily distracted by the sun and the scents of grass. A man, burdened by suffering, finds solace in the beauty of women amidst flowers, reflecting an ambivalent attitude that permeates the collection. Rife with speculation and uncertainty, the poems are crafted in unorthodox language, filled with playful paradoxes and musicality. This 'midpoint 20th century' masterwork by Juan Gelman, an exile who 'disorders the chaos / with demented exactitude,' is now available in an accurate and beautiful English translation, marking a significant literary event. Lisa Rose Bradford’s precise translations allow English readers to access Gelman's exploration of reality through poetry, embodying rebellion, freedom, and a transformative dialogue. Each section of the collection integrates political and aesthetic avant-garde elements, showcasing Gelman's vision of poetry as a means to understand the world. Bradford captures the playful logic of Gelman's original, recreating the diverse tones and voices that define his experimental approach. OXEN RAGE stands as a distinguished work in modern poetics, solidifying Gelman's place in 20th-century Argentine literature.