Chile’s 9/11: Fifty Years of Literary Resistance

September 2023 marks fifty years since the overthrow of Salvador Allende’s socialist government on September 11, 1973. To honor the struggles and sufferings of the Chilean people, the MEP’s Literature Group dedicates two eight-week series to Chilean writers active before, during, and since the Pinochet dictatorship. In addition to the justly well-known writings of Roberto Bolaño, many of our readings will be from translations by Megan McDowell. McDowell has worked with US and British independent publishers to promote a diverse group of writers largely unfamiliar to American audiences. Our aim, to quote McDowell, is “to expand our circles of empathy.”

Full book descriptions and a reading schedule are available here.

Convened by Jacqueline Cantwell, who became involved with the MEP’s Literature Group because of her love of Victor Serge’s novels. Participating in an MEP reading group led by Serge translator Richard Greeman seven years ago, Jacqueline found a community of readers eager to be challenged by the ambitions of international writers devoted to the creative potential of political fiction. Since the death of Michael Lardner, who hosted and organized the Literature Group for so many years, she has taken the lead in furthering the group’s goals of exploring international fiction and encouraging thoughtful conversation.