¿Do writers dream with terminally ill patrons? A conversation between Roberto Bolaño and Ricardo Piglia

Abstract

The following essay analyzes a dialogue between Latin American writers Roberto Bolaño and Ricardo Piglia that took place in 2001 by email. Both writers have built a strong author figure that, in many ways, transcends the fictional space. Although they also share views about the issues that the contemporary Latin American literature faces, this essay attempts to show some key differences that are often overlooked. Finally, we read other short texts (essays like “Sevilla me mata” or “Derivas de la pesada” and interviews given by Piglia) that place this dialogue in a broader context.