Finding Duende: Duende: Play and Theory | Imagination, Inspiration, Evasion

Federico Garcia Lorca's lecture on duende, which explores the concept of artistic inspiration, has been translated into English. This new translation, by Christopher Maurer, offers a more accurate and fully annotated version of the lecture, with an introduction by José Javier León. Lorca's performance of duende is foreshadowed in his bilingual version of "Imagination, Inspiration, and Escape," which calls for greater freedom in poetry.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 128 pages
Publication date: 24 January 2024
Publisher: Swan Isle Press

Duende, a concept explored by Federico García Lorca in his captivating lecture, has been a source of inspiration for writers, performers, and artists for decades. In his work, Duende: Play and Theory, Lorca delves into the poetics of Spain, comparing the mysterious duende to the Angel and the Muse. He describes it as a telluric, diabolical current that can draw the best from both performer and audience, creating a profound connection between the artist and their audience.

This new translation by Christopher Maurer, based on a revised edition of the Spanish original from 1933, offers a more accurate and fully annotated version of the lecture. José Javier León, an eminent philologist, provides an introduction that sheds light on the origins of duende, challenging previous discussions about its connection to Spanish folklore and popular speech. León demonstrates that duende, understood as the imp of artistic inspiration, was the playful yet deadly serious invention of Lorca himself.

Lorca's bravura performance of duende is foreshadowed in this translation with a bilingual version of his other major text on inspiration, "Imagination, Inspiration, and Escape." In this text, he calls for greater freedom in poetry, as if searching for duende and its "constant baptism of newly created things."

Duende continues to captivate and inspire artists, writers, and performers, reminding us of the power of artistic expression to connect with the deepest emotions and ignite the imagination. Lorca's lecture on duende remains a timeless masterpiece that continues to resonate with audiences around the world.

Weight: 360g
Dimension: 152 x 230 x 13 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781736189375
Edition number: Bilingual edition