Literaktum: Jean Désy and Aurelia Arkotxa

The Basque writer Aurelia Arkotxa (Baigorri, 1953) and Quebecois author Jean Désy (Canada, 1954) will be presenting the latest edition of the ´Chekhov vs. Shakespeare´ project at the Literaktum literary festival, San Sebastian, on November 12. The event takes place at 7 pm at Tabakalera’s Ruiz Balerdi Hall. The book features a year-long correspondence between the two writers featuring themes such as acculturation, colonialism, cultural diversity, and the pandemic.

Presented at Canada’s prestigious ´Québec en toutes lettres´ festival in October, the written exchange project sprang from the Saison Québec - Pays Basque 2021-2022 cultural exchange programme which was promoted by the Etxepare Basque Institute.

The two writers exchanged twelve letters in total which Arkotxa will discuss with Itxaro Borda in a conversation led by Aiora Jaka. Jean Désy will be joining them remotely.

The latest edition of ´Chekhov vs. Shakespeare´ will be available for purchase at the ´Acculturation, colonialism and cultural diversity´ event. Admission is free but capacity is limited. The illustrator Higinia Garay was chosen to design the cover of the book.