Jose Cemi vs Lolita

[tractatus]

Again a Cuban, yes.

As Lolita/Nabokov highly popular here, I MUST mention about this book,
"PARADISO" by Lezema Lima (0-zero search result again, sadly.) Of course, i dont mean the similar story; i only guarantee the same "delight" may be more for some. Further, if you are in the office now, get some permission and hurry to a bookstore, hope it is easy to find. Give yourself a feast!

-subjective view-
And please let me go one step more, if this novel is forgetten today, then either "Lolita" is overrated, or we prefer to exalt a man who fondle us by criticizing USSR, than a Cuban.

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a copy paste of editorial reviews:

"[An] extraordinary novel . . . written by Cuba's leading poet. . . . There is scarcely a line in the entire narrative that could be mistaken for anyone else's writing. . . . Lezama's language is reckless, voluptuous, sly and unrelentingly sexual. . . . A masterpiece of the modern Spanish Baroque. . . . Lezama has the power not only to create absorbing and memorable images; he has also placed these images in into a vast network of philosophical and mythical significance. . . . For me, the proof of the greatness of Paradiso is that for the last two weeks I've been walking around New York seeing things through Lezama's eyes."
Edmund White, New York Times, 4/21/74
Jack Friedman
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p.s
1. This book is completely different than my first advice, Tres Tristes... Infante makes only parody of these kind of style.
2. I have no ideological interest on the country, they are just good :)

[Erichtho]

He is definitely not forgotten. Paradiso by J. Lezama Lima is one of my all-time favourites. I have hardly seen anyone being more well-versed, even though I have to rely on translations! He is so melodical and opulent in style, and the depth of his literary knowlegde is overwhelming. Have you also read Oppiano Licario, the second part of the diptychon?

[tractatus]

Yes, really he is an encyclopedia on literature. As I know, he is mainly a poet, and probably his only novels, these are. I ve aware of Oppiano, but could never
dared again to read it from English. Is only possible for me with a 5 kg. unabridged dictionary. Waiting for a good translation. Is it as impressive as Paradiso?

[Erichtho]

Yes, it is very impressive as well. I can understand why you don't want to read it in English. Is Paradiso translated to Turkish?

In the German edition of Oppiano Licario there is also the poem The Death of Narciss and two or three shorter ones, and I must say I quite liked them, although it's a bit useless to read poetry in translation. They are even more baroque and - in lack of a better word - overflown than his prose.

[tractatus]

No, unfortunately Paradiso also never translated. There are capable translators, we have Rayuela(hopscotch), even harder Tres Tristes Tigres, but i think they look for commercially. I ve obtained it from Amazon.

I have seen a few poems on net but as they say, 'traduttore tradittore'; this is true especially for poems.
There is a solo dance performance on youtube, about Narciso Dead, i saw it by searching "Lezama Lima". May be you enjoy it, as you know the poem already.