While traveling last week had the opportunity to listen to a radio show called Writers & Company whereby Bernardo Atxaga (nom de plume) the Basque novelist was interviewed by Eleanor Wachtel's .
The interview starts with a reading of his poem “The Tail of The Hedgehog” (Basque - hiding away like a hedgehog), he then further describes his life and Basque life growing up under the dangerous repression of the Franco regime. He speaks of his family, the community, in school where if you spoke the language you would have to spend the day on your knees. He speaks of France which was half an hour from his community by car with a quoted reference as “Sweet France” (then) where you could find books and other things forbidden, but there was great fear trying to smuggle things across the border of this nature. Schools were forcibly Christian and this reminded me of what other Natives, North American or otherwise underwent as they were forced to be moulded/integrated by a corrupt state; religious or political.
There is some interesting discussions about the Basque language itself. Its centuries old uniqueness and yet sharing certain words that are similar to all language.
Have not read any of his writings but if interested, cooking in the kitchen perhaps, you might enjoy listening to his story in the background.
http://www.cbc.ca/video/news/audioplayer.html?clipid=1921012856
The interview starts with a reading of his poem “The Tail of The Hedgehog” (Basque - hiding away like a hedgehog), he then further describes his life and Basque life growing up under the dangerous repression of the Franco regime. He speaks of his family, the community, in school where if you spoke the language you would have to spend the day on your knees. He speaks of France which was half an hour from his community by car with a quoted reference as “Sweet France” (then) where you could find books and other things forbidden, but there was great fear trying to smuggle things across the border of this nature. Schools were forcibly Christian and this reminded me of what other Natives, North American or otherwise underwent as they were forced to be moulded/integrated by a corrupt state; religious or political.
There is some interesting discussions about the Basque language itself. Its centuries old uniqueness and yet sharing certain words that are similar to all language.
Have not read any of his writings but if interested, cooking in the kitchen perhaps, you might enjoy listening to his story in the background.
http://www.cbc.ca/video/news/audioplayer.html?clipid=1921012856
