Feb 19 • 03:07 UTC 🇦🇷 Argentina La Nacion (ES)

Verne and Payró, a secret collaboration at the end of the world

This article explores the literary connection and imagined friendship between Jules Verne and Argentine writer Ricardo Payró, highlighting their shared influence on the cultural understanding of the southern territories.

The article discusses the unlikely connection between French author Jules Verne and Argentine writer Ricardo Payró, who, though they never met or were aware of each other's works, shared a profound influence on the literary landscape of Argentina. By incorporating the Island of the States into their narratives, both authors contributed to a symbolic appropriation of a region that was, at the time, contested territory, enriching Argentina’s cultural imaginary.

The piece paints a vivid picture of how both writers, operating at the end of the 19th century, bridged cultural gaps despite being separated by an ocean. It suggests that they would have had much to discuss, from poetry and lost islands to the intricacies of theater. Their literary endeavors were characterized by a shared spirit of exploration, reflecting a desire to discover what lay beyond the horizon, a metaphor for artistic and personal ambitions.

In highlighting the personal affinities between Verne and Payró, the article invites readers to consider how literature can foster connections across vast distances and differing cultures. It emphasizes how their works have helped to define and enrich the Argentine identity, particularly in relation to its southern territories, and encourages a deeper appreciation for how narratives shape the perceptions of landscapes and their histories, even when framed in fiction.

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