Mallarme

Serban Alexandru (1957-2020) was the penname of Mirel Cana. He studied Philology at Jassy University. He taught Romanian literature from 1982 to 1990. He was an editor at the Junimea publishing house, Jassy, from 1990 to 1992, and then a curator at the Jassy National Museum of Romanian Literature until his death in 2020. From 1995 until his death he ran writer's workshops in Jassy, fostering literary talents, many of whom went on to become leading contemporary Romanian novelists. His own novels include Background Noise (1992), Man is Dead (2001), Benedict and Maledict. Book One: Mallarme (2005), Benedict and Maledict. Book Two: Albedo (2005), Diagnosis (2010), Benedict and Maledict. Book Three: An Angel, A Dog, An Image (2015). Alistair Ian Blyth, a native of Sunderland, England, has resided for many years in Bucharest. His previous translations include The Bulgarian Truck by Dumitru Tsepenaeg, The Encounter by Gabriela Adamesteanu, and I'm an Old Commie! by Dan Lungu, all available from Dalkey Archive Press.