Argentina: Elsa Osorio

Argentine writer Elsa Osorio is interviewed in Pagina/12 about her new book of short stories, Callejon con salida. Just as her other work, which has been translated into several languages, it deals with issues of memory and the legacy of the past in Argentina. This new collection was apparently triggered by Osorio's interest in the trial of Scilingo in Spain in 2005.

In this interview, Osorio states her creed, "I don't believe in forgetting, I believe that the way out for society is the way of Justice".

I have to admit that I have a copy of Osorio's My name is Light (Spanish title, A veinte años Luz) on my bookshelf and I never finished it - but not because I thought it wasn't worth it. Quite simply, it was too much for me. At the time, I was deep into research of the stolen children of Argentina and reading about in fictional form was so strong I couldn't face it after a day in the archives or at the library. This in itself is probably a testament to the strength of Osorio's writing. Perhaps now, with some distance, I can give it another try.

"A veces hace falta festejar la vida" (Pagina/12)