Ariana Harwicz

Ariana Harwicz[3†]

Ariana Harwicz, born in Buenos Aires in 1977, is an Argentine writer known for her provocative exploration of taboos like female desire, maternal instinct, and incest. Her debut novel, "Die, My Love" ("Mátate, amor", 2012), was longlisted for the 2018 Man Booker International Prize. Along with her other works, Feebleminded (La débil mental, 2014) and Tender (Precoz, 2015), her books have been translated into over ten languages. Harwicz’s prose, praised for its sharp translation, is recognized for being gripping and addictive[1†][2†][3†].

Early Years and Education

Ariana Harwicz was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1977[1†][5†][6†]. She grew up in a city known for its rich cultural and literary heritage, which likely played a role in shaping her future as a writer[1†][5†][6†].

Harwicz pursued her higher education in France, where she studied screenwriting and drama[1†][5†][6†]. She earned a degree in Performing Arts from the University of Paris VII, a prestigious institution known for its strong programs in the humanities[1†][5†][6†]. Following this, she obtained a Master’s degree in Comparative Literature from the Sorbonne, one of the world’s oldest and most respected universities[1†][5†][6†].

During her time in Paris, Harwicz immersed herself in the city’s vibrant literary scene, honing her skills and developing her unique voice as a writer[1†][5†][6†]. Her education and experiences in Paris would later influence her work, particularly in terms of its thematic focus on the complexities of human relationships and the exploration of taboo subjects[1†][5†][6†].

Career Development and Achievements

Ariana Harwicz began her career in Argentina, where she studied screenwriting and drama[3†]. She later moved to France to further her education and immerse herself in the vibrant literary scene of Paris[3†][1†][3†][6†].

Her first novel, “Mátate, amor” (2012), was translated into English as “Die, My Love” (2017, Charco Press) and was longlisted for the 2018 Man Booker International Prize[3†][1†][6†]. This novel was named the best novel of 2012 by the Argentinian daily La Nación and is currently being adapted for theatre in Buenos Aires and Israel[3†].

“Die, My Love” (Mátate, amor) is the first of an ‘involuntary’ trilogy, followed by “La débil mental” (2014), translated as “Feebleminded” (Charco Press), and “Precoz” (2015), translated as “Tender” (2022)[3†][1†]. Her works have been translated into more than ten languages, demonstrating her global appeal[3†][1†].

Harwicz’s work is characterized by its exploration of taboos around female desire, filial loyalty, a lack of maternal instinct, and even incest[3†][1†]. Her prose, lauded for its razor-sharp translation, is considered addictive[3†][1†].

In addition to her novels, Harwicz has also made significant contributions to the field of drama. She has taught screenwriting and written two plays, which have been staged in Buenos Aires[3†].

First Publication of Her Main Works

Ariana Harwicz’s literary career is marked by her unique narrative style and the profound themes she explores. Here are some of her main works:

• Die, My Love ("Mátate, amor", 2012): This is Harwicz’s first novel. The book was longlisted for the 2018 Man Booker International Prize[1†][7†]. It is a raw and powerful exploration of love and its extremes[1†].
• Feebleminded (La débil mental, 2014): This novel continues the themes of her first book, exploring the boundaries of love, desire, and madness[1†].
• Tender (Precoz, 2015): This work, completes what Harwicz has called an 'involuntary trilogy’[1†][6†][3†]. Like her previous works, it delves into the depths of human emotions and relationships[1†].
• Degenerado (2019): This novel represents another significant contribution to Harwicz’s body of work[1†][7†].

Each of these works showcases Harwicz’s ability to confront and articulate complex human emotions, pushing the boundaries of conventional narratives. Her works have been translated into more than ten languages, reflecting their universal appeal[1†].

Analysis and Evaluation

Ariana Harwicz’s work has been described as intense, disturbing, and accelerating[8†]. Her novels do not narrate a learning experience but rather expose the state of hypocrisy with which day-to-day reality is constructed[8†][9†]. Her characters are conscious of their frustration from the start, and this consciousness is like a heavy stone they drag intact through the story[8†][9†].

Harwicz’s writing style is unique and powerful. She swirls in a prose at times hallucinatory, almost baroque in its syntax[8†][9†]. Her writing takes on a material consistency over the course of her novels, maintaining an allegation for a refutation at once proud and scathing of any sugary image of family life[8†][9†].

Her first novel, “Die, My Love” (Mátate, amor), sparked a degree of suspicion and even unease due to the blinding glare of the absolute consciousness it put on stage[8†][9†]. The voice that narrates does not skimp on poetic fireworks or critical acidity[8†][9†]. It attacks the increasingly unbearable reality with elegant violence[8†][9†].

In her second novel, “La débil mental”, Harwicz excels at tackling taboos around female desire, filial loyalty, a lack of maternal instinct, and even incest[8†]. Her prose, thanks in part to the razor-sharp translation, is completely addictive[8†].

Overall, Harwicz’s work provides a harsh exposure of the conditions of an immobile dialectics[9†]. Her characters cannot cease to be who they are[8†][9†]. Their worlds come apart, irreversibly, and in a definitive manner[8†][9†]. Harwicz’s novels are not just stories, but rather, they are intense observations of disturbing relationships that mingle desire, loneliness, and frustration[8†][9†].

Personal Life

Ariana Harwicz currently resides in France[6†]. However, the details about her personal life, relationships, and family are not publicly available. Harwicz has always maintained a low profile when it comes to her personal life, focusing more on her work and contributions to literature[6†][1†][6†][3†][10†].

Conclusion and Legacy

Ariana Harwicz has established herself as one of the most radical figures in contemporary Argentinian literature[6†]. Her work, characterized by its violence, eroticism, irony, and direct criticism of the clichés surrounding the notions of the family and conventional relationships[6†], has been translated into more than ten languages[6†][1†]. Her first novel, "Die, My Love" (Mátate, amor), was longlisted for the 2018 Man Booker International Prize[6†][1†].

Harwicz’s work has been compared to that of Nathalie Sarraute and Virginia Woolf[6†]. Her novels, including Die, My Love and Feebleminded, have been adapted for the stage in Argentina and Spain[6†]. Through her narrative perspective, Harwicz examines the marginalized position of the mentally unstable and foreign in a rural landscape[6†][1†].

Critics have praised Harwicz for tackling taboos around female desire, filial loyalty, a lack of maternal instinct, and even incest[6†][1†]. Her prose, thanks in part to the razor-sharp translation, is completely addictive[6†][1†].

Ariana Harwicz’s legacy is still being written, but her impact on contemporary literature is undeniable. Her work continues to challenge societal norms and push the boundaries of literary conventions[6†][1†][6†][3†].

Key Information

• Also Known As: Unknown
• Born: 1977, Buenos Aires, Argentina[1†][3†]
• Died: Unknown
• Nationality: Argentine[1†][3†]
• Occupation: Writer, screenwriter, playwright, and documentary maker[1†][3†]
• Notable Works: “Die, My Love” (Mátate, amor, 2012)[1†][3†]; “Feebleminded” (La débil mental, 2014)[1†]; “Tender” (Precoz, 2015)[1†]
• Notable Achievements: Longlisted for the 2018 Man Booker International Prize[1†][3†]

References and Citations:

1. Wikipedia (English) - Ariana Harwicz [website] - link
2. Charco Press - Ariana Harwicz - Bio [website] - link
3. The Booker Prizes - Ariana Harwicz [website] - link
4. Goodreads - Author: Ariana Harwicz (Author of Die, My Love) [website] - link
5. Wikipedia (Spanish) - Ariana Harwicz [website] - link
6. Granta - Ariana Harwicz [website] - link
7. Goodreads - Author: Books by Ariana Harwicz (Author of Die, My Love) [website] - link
8. The Guardian - Feebleminded by Ariana Harwicz review – dangerously addictive [website] - link
9. Latin American Literature Today - "The Other Against the World: On the Fiction of Ariana Harwicz" by Maximiliano Crespi [website] - link
10. Culture Trip - Ariana Harwicz's Buenos Aires: A Life in Stories [website] - link