Novels by Karmele Jaio and Miren Agur Meabe published in English

Two Basque novels have been released in English this week for the first time: Her Mother’s Hands (Amaren eskuak) by Karmele Jaio and A Glass Eye (Kristalezko begi bat) by Miren Agur Meabe. They come from Parthian, a leading independent publisher based in Wales, specialized in introducing new voices of Welsh and European narrative.

Two Basque novels have been released in English this week for the first time: Her Mother’s Hands (Amaren eskuak) by Karmele Jaio and A Glass Eye (Kristalezko begi bat) by Miren Agur Meabe. They come from Parthian, a leading independent publisher based in Wales, specialized in introducing new voices of Welsh and European narrative.

Her Mother’s Hands is one of the most successful novels in Basque literature in recent years, garnering several awards, including the English PEN Award. Her Mother’s Hands tells the story of Nerea, a thirty-something journalist, married with a daughter, whose precarious balance in life comes unhinged overnight when her mother is hospitalized with total amnesia. The story was brought to the big screen by director Mireia Gabilondo and premiered at the San Sebastian Film Festival. Karmele Jaio will participate in August at the Edinburgh Book Festival.

A Glass Eye is about a middle-aged woman who flees to France, running away from a painful break-up. Her new environment offers solace and hope as she comes to terms with the losses in her life, her personality, her doubts and ultimately, her freedom. Miren Agur Meabe, winner of three Euskadi Literature Awards among other accolades, has published several books, including poetry and children´s and young adult literature.

Both novels are published by Parthian Europa Carnivale, a collection of new European fiction and poetry, written by some of today’s most talented female authors. The books tackle a number of extremely important or relevant themes, some of universal despite their foundations in differing languages, histories, and cultures. These writers have woven the tales of a number of extraordinary women challenged by religion, health, love, war, and politics.

Support for the English translation of these two books came from the Etxepare Basque Institute, and has its origin in a visit two years ago to the Basque Country sponsored by the Etxepare Institute and Literature Across Frontiers.