Downhill and Rock & Core

Gabriel Aresti (J933~1975) was the poetic voice of both resistance and renewal for a generation and beyond of Basques in the 1960s and until his untimely death at the age of forty-one. The collections puhlished here for the first time. Downhill (Maldan behera, 1960) and Rack & Core (Harri eta herri 1964). represent two distinct periods in his poetry: the first an epic, dreamlíke, and visionary tale of descent and ascent. death and rebirth, a symbolist treatise on resurrection told through the voice of a superman, an Ego. In a complete stylistic about-turn, meanwhile, the second is a robusto gritty. and direct tract, socially coriscious poetry writte n in a olear. comprehensible form that plays on the metaphor of stone and rock as resistance, endurance. Amaia Gabantxo' s stunning translation ofthese two serninal works from the original Basque-the first time they have been presented in English-brings the urgency and force of the originals to life and will take readers on an unforgettable journey deep into the rocky core of Basque culture. The way is long, and it is an evocative, honest, sometimes harrowing journey, but  the result is a treasure that will live long in the memory.