
Impostura
Anagrama, 1984
Translations
(France, Bourgois , 1996 / Pocket, Titres, 2008)
Press
«A story told with skill, which reveals to us that its author is a natural-born writer.» L. Azancot, Abc
«An extremely accomplished work that makes you put your hand to your mouth if you don’t want to get a fly stuck in your throat. A delight.» Víctor Moreno, Egin
«A radical departure from the usual canons of realism. One of our most original and restless young new storytellers.» Mercedes Monmany, Diario 16
«Enrique Vila-Matas is one of the most malign authors and the worst enemy of public morale that has ever been written about.» Jordi Llovet, La Vanguardia
Synopsis
(Imposture) The photograph of an anonymous mental patient found stealing funeral casks in a Barcelona cemetery, and who said he remembered nothing of his past, appeared in 1952 on the pages of La Vanguardia in order to identify the subject. Immediately Sra. Bruch recognises her husband in the photograph of the amnesic – the illustrious phalange writer Ramón Bruch, who disappeared in the midst of the Blue Division campaign in Russia. But another woman enters the scene, claiming that the man is, in fact, the typographer Claudio Nart, an old anarchist, extortionist and half-pint robber. From this misunderstanding, the astute amnesic will establish a game of interests and suspicions, involving the reader and with the complicity of the author, which make for a disconcerting story on the subject of impossible identity – a subject that is skilfully articulated for the purpose of literature and the strength of the writer’s voice in the heart of the literary discourse.
Written and published by Vila-Matas in 1984, Impostura is based on a well-known true story – the Canella-Bruneri case, which came to light in Italy in the twenties and divided the country in favour of one of the two identities of the amnesiac detained in Collegno mental hospital, who two women from different social backgrounds passionately recognised as their husbands. This true story was the inspiration for a play by Pirandello, Come tu mi vuoi (Greta Garbo and later Claudia Cardinale starred in it), a film by Sergio Corbucci with Totó, and the great books by Leonardo Sciascia and Susan Sontag.
(Spain, Anagrama)
- Cabinet d’amateur, an oblique novel
- Esta bruma insensata
- Impón tu suerte
- Doctor Pasavento + Bastian Schneider
- Mac y su contratiempo
- Marienbad eléctrico
- Bartleby y compañía
- Dietario Voluble
- Suicidios ejemplares
- Historia abreviada de la literatura portátil
- Kassel no invita a la lógica
- París no se acaba nunca
- Niña
- Fuera de aquí
- Extraña forma de vida
- El mal de Montano
- Aire de Dylan
- Hijos sin hijos
- Una vida absolutamente maravillosa. Ensayos selectos
- El viajero más lento. El arte de no terminar nada
- Chet Baker piensa en su arte. Relatos selectos
- En un lugar solitario. Narrativa 1973-1984
- Lejos de Veracruz
- Dublinesca
- Perder teorías
- Ella era Hemingway / No soy Auster
- El viento ligero en Parma
- Exploradores del abismo
- Desde la ciudad nerviosa
- El viaje vertical
- Para acabar con los números redondos
- Recuerdos inventados
- Una casa para siempre
- La asesina ilustrada
MB Authors
- Pepa AGUAR
- Pablo ARANDA
- Juan Luis ARSUAGA
- Manuel ASTUR
- Flavita BANANA
- Joan BARRIL
- Nuria BARRIOS
- María BASTARÓS
- Felipe BENÍTEZ REYES
- Joan-Daniel BEZSONOFF
- BLACKIE BOOKS
- Joana BONET
- Juan BONILLA
- Emilio BUESO
- Bibiana CANDIA
- Leonardo CANO
- Pablo CARBONELL
- Martín CASARIEGO
- Nicolás CASARIEGO
- Paula CIFUENTES
- Juan CUADRA
- Mario CUENCA SANDOVAL
- Malén DENÍS
- Elizabeth DUVAL
- Maria ESCALAS
- Cristina FALLARÁS
- Eneko FERNÁNDEZ
- Laura FERRERO
- Josep Maria FONALLERAS
- Albert FORNS CANAL
- Miguel GALLARDO
- Olivia GALLO
- Xenia GARCÍA
- Ignacio GARCÍA-VALIÑO
- José A. GARRIGA VELA
- David B. GIL
- Santi GIMÉNEZ
- Marcos GIRALT TORRENTE
- Enric GONZÁLEZ
- Ismael GRASA
- Luci GUTIÉRREZ
- Javier GUTIÉRREZ
- Najat El HACHMI
- Alicia KOPF
- Use LAHOZ
- Lucía LIJTMAER
- Shaina Joy MACHLUS
- Adrià MARQUÈS
- Ignacio MARTÍNEZ DE PISóN
- Ramon MAS
- Ana MERINO
- Luna MIGUEL
- Amarna MILLER
- Miquel OBIOLS
- Bruno ORO
- Miqui OTERO
- Anna PACHECO
- Vicenç PAGÈS JORDÀ
- Enric PARDO
- Concepción PEREA
- Juan Manuel DE PRADA
- Jordi PUNTÍ
- Llucia RAMIS
- Antonio J. RODRÍGUEZ
- Félix ROMEO
- Carmen ROMERO
- Xavier RUBERT DE VENTÓS
- Gemma RUIZ
- Juanjo SÁEZ
- Gabriel SALVADÓ
- Màrius SERRA
- Rubén SERRANO
- Ramon SOLSONA
- José Miguel TOMASENA
- David TRUEBA
- Juan VICO
- Enrique VILA-MATAS
- Rosario VILLAJOS
- Rolando VILLAZÓN
- Pedro ZARRALUKI