Romania's literary renaissance: a battle cry against its troubled past
In a bold move, Mircea Cărtărescu has taken his own life's work - the sprawling 1,400-page novel, Blinding - as a form of revenge against those who stole his youth. Born in 1956, within the Soviet Union's sphere of influence, Cărtărescu grew up under communist rule, where art and literature were tightly controlled. But instead of conforming to the regime's expectations, he found solace in Western culture - from The Beatles to Allen Ginsberg - and became a key figure in Romania's 'blue jeans generation'.
Cărtărescu's work is a testament to his love-hate relationship with his home country. A nation where church activity was suppressed during communism, yet now boasts over 73% of the population identifying as Orthodox Christian. His novels are unapologetic in their treatment of religion, and often border on the surreal - much like his idol, Vladimir Nabokov. Cărtărescu has long been a fan of Nabokov's butterfly collection, and even visited his former office at Harvard University to marvel at the specimens.
The Blinding trilogy is more than just a love letter to Bucharest; it's a scathing critique of the city's green bronze statues descending from their plinths to copulate with limestone gorgons. It's a world where tower blocks are deemed "the city's penis" and where the narrator fantasises about the city itself coming alive. Cărtărescu's narrator is unapologetically himself, a product of both Eastern European sensibilities and Western influences.
But what makes eastern European writing so fresh? Cărtărescu attributes it to writers who are "totally devoted to their art" - non-commercial, uncompromising, and true to themselves. His work has garnered international acclaim, including being longlisted for the International Booker Prize this year, but he remains unfazed by the literary establishment's snubs.
One of the most striking aspects of Cărtărescu's work is his ambivalence towards Romania itself. A nation where the diaspora has turned against its own country, with many expats voting for nativist candidates in recent presidential elections. Cărtărescu acknowledges this, but insists that Romanians will always be Europeans, and that the EU membership date of 2007 was a defining moment in their history.
As he embarks on his literary journey, Cărtărescu is unapologetically himself - a product of both his troubled past and his love for Western culture. His work is a battle cry against those who stole his youth, and a testament to the power of literature to transcend borders and cultures. Whether or not he wins the Nobel Prize in Literature remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: Mircea Cărtărescu is leaving an indelible mark on the literary world.
In a bold move, Mircea Cărtărescu has taken his own life's work - the sprawling 1,400-page novel, Blinding - as a form of revenge against those who stole his youth. Born in 1956, within the Soviet Union's sphere of influence, Cărtărescu grew up under communist rule, where art and literature were tightly controlled. But instead of conforming to the regime's expectations, he found solace in Western culture - from The Beatles to Allen Ginsberg - and became a key figure in Romania's 'blue jeans generation'.
Cărtărescu's work is a testament to his love-hate relationship with his home country. A nation where church activity was suppressed during communism, yet now boasts over 73% of the population identifying as Orthodox Christian. His novels are unapologetic in their treatment of religion, and often border on the surreal - much like his idol, Vladimir Nabokov. Cărtărescu has long been a fan of Nabokov's butterfly collection, and even visited his former office at Harvard University to marvel at the specimens.
The Blinding trilogy is more than just a love letter to Bucharest; it's a scathing critique of the city's green bronze statues descending from their plinths to copulate with limestone gorgons. It's a world where tower blocks are deemed "the city's penis" and where the narrator fantasises about the city itself coming alive. Cărtărescu's narrator is unapologetically himself, a product of both Eastern European sensibilities and Western influences.
But what makes eastern European writing so fresh? Cărtărescu attributes it to writers who are "totally devoted to their art" - non-commercial, uncompromising, and true to themselves. His work has garnered international acclaim, including being longlisted for the International Booker Prize this year, but he remains unfazed by the literary establishment's snubs.
One of the most striking aspects of Cărtărescu's work is his ambivalence towards Romania itself. A nation where the diaspora has turned against its own country, with many expats voting for nativist candidates in recent presidential elections. Cărtărescu acknowledges this, but insists that Romanians will always be Europeans, and that the EU membership date of 2007 was a defining moment in their history.
As he embarks on his literary journey, Cărtărescu is unapologetically himself - a product of both his troubled past and his love for Western culture. His work is a battle cry against those who stole his youth, and a testament to the power of literature to transcend borders and cultures. Whether or not he wins the Nobel Prize in Literature remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: Mircea Cărtărescu is leaving an indelible mark on the literary world.
. and can we talk about how his novels are unapologetic in their treatment of religion? it's like he's saying "hey, i'm a romanian, but i'm not afraid to speak my mind" 
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. and let's be real, his work has garnered international acclaim - but he remains unfazed by the literary establishment's snubs? respect! 
maybe someone can pitch an idea to the devs? 
But seriously, it sounds like he's tapping into this whole 'tortured artist' vibe, but also refusing to conform to anyone's expectations.
) and not worry about what others think. It's refreshing to see someone who's unapologetically themselves, even if it means going against the crowd.
His work serves as a powerful reminder that literature can be both a source of catharsis and a catalyst for change, allowing us to reexamine our relationships with ourselves, others, and our cultural heritage. 
I'm so over how everyone's making a big deal about this guy Cărtărescu being bitter towards his past. Like, hello, it's been what, 60 years since communism fell? Get over it already! 
His book Blinding is just a bunch of whiny nostalgia, if you ask me. And don't even get me started on the statue-shaming – like, who writes about that in a novel? 
It's all so pretentious and overhyped. Give me something with some real substance, not just someone's midlife crisis on paper... 
. His work is truly a reflection of his complex past and his love for Western culture. I think what's amazing about him is that he stayed true to himself, even when it was hard. He's not afraid to tackle tough topics like religion and nationalism in his writing. It's like he's saying, 'Hey, I'm Romanian, but I'm also European, and I see both sides of this complex issue.' 
His work is giving a voice to those who feel like they don't fit into traditional categories - which is what art is all about, right? 
So sad about Mircea Cărtărescu 
It's like he's speaking truth to power without being afraid of it 
Cărtărescu is all about embracing your individuality and not conforming to societal expectations 
i mean what's the big deal? someone dies and their book sells more copies than before 
is just wild, but also kinda genius?
One thing that stands out to me is how he attributes Eastern European literature being fresh to writers who are "totally devoted to their art" - I think that's a really important message for artists and writers everywhere. 
It's also interesting how he sees himself as part of the EU but also as a product of his own culture, which I think says a lot about identity and where we come from. 
It's like he took all his frustrations with Romania and just poured them onto paper 
His writing is like a mix of Eastern European sensibilities and Western influences - it's like he's trying to find a middle ground between his troubled past and love for Western culture 
. I mean, can you believe someone would steal a kid's youth like that? It's not just about the country's troubled past but also about individual freedom and creativity 
️ anyway, i think cărtărescu is a total genius and his writing is like a love letter to rumania (and europe) 
but seriously, it's crazy how much pressure he puts on himself to be true to his art 
and if he doesn't win the nobel prize in literature soon, i'll be soooo mad 
. btw, can we talk about how eastern european writers are literally the future of literature?!
. He's not afraid to speak his mind and challenge the status quo, even if it means going against the grain 
. His love-hate relationship with Romania is palpable - you can feel the tension and passion in every sentence 
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. Trust me, you won't be disappointed 
. It's like he's creating this beautiful, surreal world that's both deeply personal and universally relatable 
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