In a Hundred Graves; A Basque Portrait

by Robert Laxalt

Book Overview

His book The Basque hotel was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in fiction, and his novella A cup of tea in Pamplona led to his being awarded El Tambor de oro (The Golden Drum), one of Spain's most prestigious literary honours, in 1986. Since 1954, Laxalt has served in a number of positions at the University of Nevada, most recently as the first occupant of the Distinguished Nevada Author Chair..

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0874170354
• ISBN13: 9780874170351
• Release Date: January 1972
• Publisher: University of Nevada Press
• Length: 146 Pages
• Weight: 0.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.8" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

A Very Satisfying Read

People familiar with Laxalt's work know that he mostly writes about the Basques, which is his own heritage. This book is a moist, sincere, heart-warming ramble around the Basque countryside, based on Laxalt's stay in Basque country in the early seventies. It is not a novel; it is rather a series of vignettes of traditional Basque life, with an eye toward revealing something of the Basque character. Sometimes Laxalt himself is a character in the action, such as at the slaughter of a pig or when some French bikers create a stir in a Basque tavern; more often he is an anonymous observer, such as in the singing contest or the meeting of the three poets. Some of the chapters are less than a page long, and might be described as prose poems.The book is disarmingly short; I think I read it in two hours. But you can't resist how it makes you feel good, and makes you want to spend your next vacation in the Pyrenees. If you're a Basque enthusiast, it's a must read.