Severina (Rodrigo Rey Rosa)

This brilliant, cosmopolitan novel tells the story of a bookseller who falls in love with a woman he catches shoplifting in his store. When the bookseller confronts Severina about the theft a relationship begins, but questions remain: Where is the woman from? Is she married? What explains her obsession with stealing arcane books? This is a novel about love, both the love between two people and the love we have for books. Rey Rosa is a gifted writer who manages to sprinkle fundamental truths effortlessly throughout his story. Rosa was a student and friend of the late Paul Bowles--Bowles actually translated his first novel into English--and his deep understanding of human behavior is evident in his novels. SEVERINA was translated by Chris Andrews, Roberto Bolano’s first English translator.