Argentine novelist, poet, and former political prisoner Alicia Kozameh will speak to Professor Gabriela Polit (Spanish and Portuguese) about her archive, recently acquired and processed by the Benson Latin American Collection. The conversation will be in English.
Kozameh is the award-winning author of the novels Pasos bajo el agua, a fictionalized account of her time in prison during Argentina's last military dictatorship; 259 saltos, uno inmortal, which deals with life as a political exile; and others. She is also the author of a collection of short stories, Ofrenda de propia piel, and a book of poetry, Mano en vuelo, as well as editor of two anthologies.
She collaborated with four other ex-prisoners on the book Nosotras, presas políticas, which gathers testimonials of more than one hundred women who were incarcerated at the Villa Devoto prison in Buenos Aires.
Kozameh's writing has been widely translated and published in different languages. She is currently professor of creative writing at Chapman University.
Kozameh’s archival collection at the Benson contains a wealth of materials related to her time as a political prisoner from 1975 to 1978, including diaries and correspondence; documentation of her literary career such handwritten and typescript manuscript drafts; and other materials, such as photographs, correspondence with family members, fellow writers, editors, translators, and human rights groups, and materials illustrating her impact as a writer and poet in exile.
The event is free and open to the public. Additional event information can be found here.
Location: Benson Latin American Collection, SRH 1.208 Benson Conference Room
