ARLT, Roberto. Manuscript Autobiographical Sketch with a Self-Caricature. n.p.: 1931. One single sheet from a notebook, glued onto a typed transcript of the contents. A candid and humorous mini-autobiography by this Argentine off-the-wall avant guard writer. Almost as if he were filling in a form for a dating service, Arlt describes himself under eight different categories: Physical description ("31 years old," "brown hair," "bad spelling," etc.); Literary achievements ("3 novels, a municipal prize," etc.); Education ("third grade," "diverse occupations"); Psychological description ("changing moods," "very few needs," "convictions: none,", etc); Defects ("vain, like all writers," "selfish," etc.); Virtues ("absolute sincerity; self-confidence; quiet acceptance of failure and disillusion"); Potential ("If he works hard and is not spoiled by success, he will be a writer with considerable social reach"); External judgment ("For some, a cynic; a bitter man to others, to myself, a man on his way to everlasting inner peace"). This self-description offers a view of Arlt from an angle other than his literary work and existing biographies. Whereas any writer that ever wished to inflict an autobiography on the world tended to write an entire book, Arlt significantly chose to jot down this unique self-description in a small, torn notebook page, as if his modesty -- be it true or Borgesean -- demanded that his life story not occupy unnecessary space. Highly significant as well, is the full-body, ink self-portrait, which leans heavily toward caricature; but such duality should come as no surprise, as the autobiography below it shares it duality as well – as indeed do the sublimely ridiculous characters of his literary masterpieces Los siete locos and Las lanzallamas.

• Category: Extraordinary Books, Manuscripts & Art
• Keywords: argentina · drawing · Manuscripts
• Language: Deutsch
• Inventory number: 7882LB

Our Price: USD 7,500.00