BORGES, Jorge Luis. Holograph Manuscript of the Article "La apostasía de Coifi." 1922. Four 14cm x 17.5cm sheets, hand-numbered. Published originally in Entregas de la Licorne. 2a ép., a. 1, n. 1-2.Montevideo, 11/1953, pp45-48. A very little known, yet absolutely fascinating essay about the conversion of the Germanic tribes of Northumbria during the VII century. Thanks to Borges's fascination with early medieval England and the Germanic tribes and his extensive knowledge thereof, he is able to succintly (Borgesly) expound on the importance of this conversion for the history of Europe in just four pages. Yet, paradoxically, Borges argues, there are no accounts of how insignificant this conversion must have been for most of the new Christians. He centers his essay on Coifi, King Edwin's high priest, who according to Bede and others abjured the old religions because it was obvious that their gods didn't protect them against the newcomers. He then proceded to invade his temple on horseback, sword in hand, destroying and then burning it. Borges believes this last act was merely a theatrical embelishment for the benefit of the king. Coifi's character survives as a "subject of bad historical paintings," says Borges, but his fate remains unknown to us, and we don't even know if he stuck by his word and did in fact embrace the new religion. The manuscript has about a dozen minor corrections, and it is written in what we deem to be Borges's smallest handwriting on the smallest leaves he could get his hands on. Interestingly, Borges has inserted two instructions for the printer on the Wordsworth epigraph, something we haven't encountered in other manuscripts. Signed by Borges at the end.

• Category: Extraordinary Books, Manuscripts & Art
• Keywords: argentina · LATIN AMERICAN LITERATURE · Manuscripts
• Language: Englisch
• Inventory number: 9049LB

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