Publisher's Synopsis
Haciendo gala de una finìsima ironìa, Aira nos hace reflexionar en Parménides acerca de cuestiones como el porqué del deseo de escribir o cuál es el pago justo a dicho trabajo, planteando cuestiones fundamentales en torno a la creación y el reconocimiento profesional e intelectual.
Parménides, prominente jerarca griego del siglo V a.C., contrata al escritor Perinola para que le ayude a escribir un libro. Un libro indefinido que tiene en mente desde hace ya tiempo pero que no se anima a redactar por desconocimiento técnico. La única pista que Perinola recibe del jerarca es que se obra versará &«sobre la naturaleza» y reflejará sus ideas. Las motivaciones de Parménides son muy claras: quiere ver un texto firmado por él, que difunda sus ideas por otras tierras, más allá de su muerte, un libro que, en definitiva, aumente su prestigio y alimente su ego.
La relación entre estas dos personas interesadas en la literatura se vuelve intensa e interdependiente. Y asì pasan los años, mientras Perinola intenta escribir un libro que probablemente nunca llegará a existir.
ENGLISH DESCRIPTION
Ironically, in Parmenides Aira makes us reflect about issues such as the desire to write and what would constitute fair payment for that type of work, furthermore raising fundamental questions around the creative process and its intellectual credit.
Parmenides, a prominent Greek hierarch in the 5th century BC, hired writer Perinola to help him write a book. An undefined book that has been floating around in his mind for a long time but hasn't had the courage to write because technical he doesn't know how to. The only clue that the hierarch gives Perinola is that his work would be "about nature" and that it would reflect his ideas on the subject. Parmenides' motivations are very clear: he wants to see a book with his name on it, one that spreads his views throughout the world, and one that lives long after his death; in short, a book that gives him prestige and feeds his ego. The relationship between these two people who are interested in literature becomes intense and codependent. And so, years go by as Perinola tries to write a book that will probably never see the light.
