{"product_id":"9781940953137","title":"The One Before","description":"\u003cp\u003e\"The most important Argentinian writer since Borges.\"—\u003ci\u003eThe Independent\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe One Before\u003c\/i\u003e is a triptych of sorts, consisting of a series of short pieces—called \"Arguments\"—and two longer stories—\"Half-Erased\" and \"The One Before\"—all of which revolve around the ideas of exile and memory.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMany of the characters who populate Juan José Saer's other novels appear here, including Tomatis, Ángel Leto, and Washington Noriega (who appear in \u003ci\u003eLa Grande\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eScars\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eThe Sixty-Five Years of Washington\u003c\/i\u003e, all of which are available from Open Letter). Saer's typical themes are on display in this collection as well, as is his idiosyncratic blend of philosophical ruminations and precise storytelling.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFrom the story of the two characters who decide to bury a message in a bottle that simply says \"MESSAGE,\" to Pigeon Garay's attempt to avoid the rising tides and escape Argentina for Europe, \u003ci\u003eThe One Before\u003c\/i\u003e evocatively introduces readers to Saer's world and gives the already indoctrinated new material about their favorite characters.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eJuan José Saer\u003c\/b\u003e was the leading Argentinian writer of the post-Borges generation. The author of numerous novels and short-story collections (including \u003ci\u003eScars\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eLa Grande\u003c\/i\u003e), Saer was awarded Spain's prestigious Nadal Prize in 1987 for \u003ci\u003eThe Event\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eRoanne Kantor\u003c\/b\u003e is a doctoral student in comparative literature at the University of Texas at Austin. Her translation of \u003ci\u003eThe One Before\u003c\/i\u003e won the 2009 Susan Sontag Prize for Translation. Her translations from Spanish have appeared in \u003ci\u003eLittle Star\u003c\/i\u003e magazine, \u003ci\u003eTwo Lines\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003ePalabras Errantes\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Open Letter","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47141758206192,"sku":"9781940953137","price":9.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9781940953137_p0.jpg?v=1769898437","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9781940953137","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}