TravestiTravesti

By Mircea CartarescuBy Mircea Cartarescu

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.

This publication [communication] reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained

therein

Mircea CartarescuMircea Cartarescu born 1 June 1956born 1 June 1956, Bucharest, Bucharest is a Romanian poet, novelist and is a Romanian poet, novelist and

essayist.essayist. he graduated from the he graduated from the

University of Bucharest's Faculty University of Bucharest's Faculty of Letters, Department of of Letters, Department of Romanian Language And Romanian Language And Literature, in 1980. Between Literature, in 1980. Between 1980 and 1989 he worked as a 1980 and 1989 he worked as a Romanian language teacher, Romanian language teacher, then he worked at the Writers' then he worked at the Writers' Union and as an editor at the Union and as an editor at the Caiete CriticeCaiete Critice magazine. In 1991 magazine. In 1991 he became a lecturer at the he became a lecturer at the Chair of Romanian literary Chair of Romanian literary history, part of the University of history, part of the University of Bucharest Faculty of Letters. At Bucharest Faculty of Letters. At present (2010), he is an present (2010), he is an associate professor.Between associate professor.Between 1994-1995 he was a visiting 1994-1995 he was a visiting lecturer at the University of lecturer at the University of Amsterdam.Amsterdam.

Travesti by Mircea Travesti by Mircea CartarescuCartarescu

Travesti Travesti is the story of Victor, a successful writer who recalls is the story of Victor, a successful writer who recalls his boyhood , especially one of the experiences of a trip his boyhood , especially one of the experiences of a trip during high school, an experience that seems to have during high school, an experience that seems to have impressed him.impressed him.

Victor's characterizationVictor's characterization He is worried about mixed thoughtsHe is worried about mixed thoughts He has strange dreamsHe has strange dreams and visionsand visions His obsession is LuluHis obsession is Lulu He was cruel to animals and insectsHe was cruel to animals and insects He couldn’t sleepHe couldn’t sleep He wanted to become a writerHe wanted to become a writer He believed that his colleagues are full of vulgarityHe believed that his colleagues are full of vulgarity He wasn’t a party animalHe wasn’t a party animal He believed that he is a spiritual manHe believed that he is a spiritual man He narrates his life from 17 years as seen at 34He narrates his life from 17 years as seen at 34 He is vulgar and raunchyHe is vulgar and raunchy He used to like being aloneHe used to like being alone When he was in the camp he didn’t socializeWhen he was in the camp he didn’t socialize He spoke with GodHe spoke with God At the end he has changedAt the end he has changed At the end he told : “I'm squeezed like a lemonAt the end he told : “I'm squeezed like a lemon but healed”but healed”

tthe novel won the Writers' Union and ASPRO Award 1994 he novel won the Writers' Union and ASPRO Award 1994 and was translated into French, Dutch, Norwegian, and was translated into French, Dutch, Norwegian, Hungarian and Italian.Hungarian and Italian.

presentation made bpresentation made by Cristiana Dobie & y Cristiana Dobie & Melissa RubaMelissa Ruba

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.

This publication [communication] reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which This publication [communication] reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained thereinmay be made of the information contained therein