Julia Kornberg · Borges for Beginners

The Argentine writer Jorge Luis Borges never wrote a novel, yet his short stories, essays, poems, and lectures inspired generations, from Gabriel García Márquez to Paul Auster, W.G. Sebald, and Benjamín Labatut. He remains a central figure in literary history, and his works continue to spark new ideas and interpretations.

In this class, we will explore his essential works, beginning with the classic stories "Tlön, Uqbar, Orbis Tertius" and "The Aleph" and the poem "Mythical Foundation of Buenos Aires," considering his literary mission and place in philosophy and Argentine literature. We will then examine translation, authorship, and history in "Pierre Menard, Author of Quixote" and the essays "The Homeric Versions" and "The Translators of the Arabian Nights."

Finally, we will study Borges's detective stories, noir, and engagement with Judaism through "Death and the Compass," the essay "Kabbalah," and "The Secret Miracle," which reflects on Kafka and anti-Semitism during World War II.