EL ALEPH. Signed [Signed 1st Edition ]

Edition: 1st Edition

Book Description

Buenos Aires: Editorial Losada, Colección Prosistas de España y América, 1949 Inscribed by Borges to his 'love', Amanda Molina Vedia, to whom he dedicated his landmark 'La Muerte y la brújula' [Death And The Compass] in 1951. First edition. A near fine or better example. Seldom seen in this condition in the original printed wrappers. The presentation inscription penned in English reads: "Dear Mandie / Happy Xmas with best greetings from / Jorge Luis Borges / 1951, Buenos Aires - / What if this friend happened to be God?". [Helft p.72; Becco 37], 8vo, Front cover vignet te by Attilio Rossi. In Borges' own words: "Ficciones y El Aleph (1949 y 1952) son, según creo, mis libros más importantes". (Autobiografía pp.111-112). The Borgean quest for the Verb, the Word, which is all words, for the absolute Book, which is al l books, takes flesh in El Aleph: the One that contains All, exemplified in the last tale of this collection. On page 139 Borges begins to expand upon his vision through the Aleph he has found in the cellar of Carlos Argentino Danieri. "En ese insta nte gigantesco, he visto millones de actos deleitables o atroces; ninguno me asombró como el hecho de que todos ocuparan el mismo punto, sin superposición y sin transparencia". (In this gigantic instant, I saw millions of acts, delightful or cruel; none astonished me more than the fact that they all occupied the same place, without superposition or transparency "Borges enumerates 37 points in all, each beginning with "vi " (I saw ): "Vi el populoso mar - Vi el alba y la tarde Vi las muchedumb res de América - Vi un laberinto roto (era Londres) Marvelous Presentation Copy.. 1st Edition.