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Tatiana Salem Levy

タチアナ・サレム・レヴィ

Tatiana Salem Levy

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
1979-01-24 (Lisbon, Portugal)
Nationality
Brazil
Languages
Portuguese
Religion
Judaism
Residence History
Lisbon, Portugal → Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Career

Occupations
Writer, Translator
Active Years
2003-

Education

Federal University of Rio de Janeiro
Faculty of Letters / Literature
Country: Brazil
Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro
Faculty of Letters / Literature
Country: Brazil

Awards

São Paulo Prize for Literature (Best Book of the Year - Debut Author)
2008
Work: A Chave de Casa (The House in Smyrna)
Category: 最優秀書籍賞 - 新人部門
Organization: São Paulo Prize for Literature
Result: Winner
São Paulo Prize for Literature (Best Book of the Year)
2012
Work: Dois Rios
Category: 最優秀書籍賞(ショートリスト)
Organization: São Paulo Prize for Literature
Result: Shortlisted
Granta Best of Young Brazilian Novelists
2012
Organization: Granta
Result: Selected
Prêmio Jabuti (Finalist)
Organization: Prêmio Jabuti
Result: Finalist

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

A Experiência de Fora: Blanchot, Foucault and Deleuze

2003 Criticism / Philosophy

A study of French thinkers Blanchot, Foucault and Deleuze, combining literary theory and philosophical discussion.

literary theoryphilosophy

A Chave de Casa

2007 Novel (autobiographical elements)

A novel that interweaves family history, memory and experiences of migration among Turkish-Jewish heritage, blending autobiographical elements and fiction.

memoryfamilymigrationJewish heritage
Translations
  • The House in Smyrna (English translation, Alison Entrekin, 2015)

Primos

2010 Novel

A work that addresses family and kinship relations and individual memories (short/novel-length work depending on edition).

kinshipmemoryidentity

Em Silêncio

2011 Novel

A work focused on silence and inner voices, depicting relationships and introspection.

introspectionsilencerelationships

Dois Rios

2011 Novel

A narrative that moves across multiple perspectives and timelines, exploring intersections of memory and the present.

timememorymultiple perspectives

Vista Chinesa

2021 Novel

A recent novel exploring personal memory and relationships through urban landscapes; translated into English.

urbanitymemoryrelationships
Translations
  • Vista Chinesa (English translation, Alison Entrekin, 2022)

Bibliography

  • Paralelos (anthology contribution)
  • 25 Mulheres que Estão Fazando a Nova Literatura Brasileira (anthology contribution)
  • Recontando Machado (anthology contribution)
  • Dicionário Amoroso da Língua Portuguesa (contribution)
  • A Experiência de Fora: Blanchot, Foucault and Deleuze (2003)
  • A Chave de Casa (2007)
  • Primos (2010)
  • Em Silêncio (2011)
  • Dois Rios (2011)
  • Vista Chinesa (2021)

Translations of Works

  • A Chave de Casa → The House in Smyrna (English translation by Alison Entrekin, 2015)
  • Vista Chinesa → Vista Chinesa (English translation by Alison Entrekin, 2022)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
introspective styleblend of autobiographical elements and fictionpoetic, restrained prose
Recurring Motifs
memoryfamilymigration and diasporaJewish roots

Legacy

Tatiana Salem Levy is regarded as a contemporary Brazilian writer who brought a distinct perspective to themes of family history, memory and migration. She has attracted international attention through awards such as the São Paulo Prize and selection by Granta.

Trivia

  • Born in Lisbon in 1979 to a family of Turkish-Jewish origin.
  • She works both as a writer and as a translator.
  • Won the São Paulo Prize for Literature in 2008 for her debut novel A Chave de Casa.