Roberto Bolaño bibliography explained

The following bibliography of Roberto Bolaño provides a chronological list of the published works of Chilean writer Roberto Bolaño (1953–2003). It includes his fiction (novels, short stories, poems) and non-fiction (essays, speeches, interviews), both published during his lifetime and posthumously.

Books

Note: Titles appearing in brackets have not yet been translated into English and are only literal indications of the original Spanish titles.

Novels

English title Original Spanish title Translator
The Skating Rink La pista de hielo (1993) Chris Andrews, August 2009
Nazi Literature in the Americas La literatura nazi en América (1996) Chris Andrews, February 2008
Distant Star Estrella distante (1996) Chris Andrews, December 2004
The Savage Detectives Los detectives salvajes (1998) Natasha Wimmer, April 2007
Amulet Amuleto (1999) Chris Andrews, January 2007
Monsieur Pain Monsieur Pain (1999) retitled reprint of small-press
La senda de los elefantes (1984, written 1981-1982)
Chris Andrews, January 2010
By Night in Chile Nocturno de Chile (2000) Chris Andrews, December 2003
Antwerp Amberes (2002, written 1980) Natasha Wimmer, April 2010
A Little Lumpen Novelita Una novelita lumpen (2002, written 2001) Natasha Wimmer, September 2014
2666 2666 (2004, written 1999-2003) Natasha Wimmer, November 2008
The Third Reich El Tercer Reich (2010, written 1989) Natasha Wimmer, November 2011
Woes of the True Policeman Los sinsabores del verdadero policía (2011, written 198x-2003) Natasha Wimmer, November 2012
The Spirit of Science Fiction El espíritu de la ciencia-ficción (2016, written 1984) Natasha Wimmer, February 2019
[Diorama] Diorama (not yet published or translated)

Short story collections

English title Original Spanish publication Translator
Last Evenings on Earth Selection of stories from Putas Asesinas (2001)
and Llamadas Telefónicas (1997)
Chris Andrews, April 2007
The Return Stories from Putas Asesinas and Llamadas Telefónicas
not collected in Last Evenings on Earth
Chris Andrews, June 2010
The Insufferable Gaucho El Gaucho Insufrible (2003) Chris Andrews, August 2010
The Secret of Evil El Secreto del Mal (2007) Chris Andrews, April 2012
Cowboy Graves Sepulcros de vaqueros (2017) Natasha Wimmer, February 2021

Poetry collections

English title Original Spanish title Translator Notes
[Reinventing Love] Reinventar el amor (1976) 20-page booklet in México (first publication)
[Fragments from the Unknown University] Fragmentos de la Universidad Desconocida (1992) Poems (1978–1992), reprinted in La Universidad Desconocida
The Romantic Dogs Los Perros Románticos:
Poemas 1980-1998
(2000)
(revised from Los Perros Románticos: Poemas 1977-1990, 1993)
Laura Healy, 2008 43 poems written from 1980 to 1998
[The Last Savage] El último salvaje (1995) Poems (1990-1993), reprinted in La Universidad Desconocida
Tres Tres (2000) Laura Healy, September 2011 Three poem sequences written in 1981, 1993, and 1994
The Unknown University La Universidad Desconocida (2007) Laura Healy, July 2013 Includes selection from the previous collections, uncollected poetry
and the novella Antwerp (under the title "People Walking Away")

Other books

Title Original Spanish title Translation Contents
[''Advice from a Morrison Disciple to a Joyce Fanatic''] Consejos de un discípulo de Morrison
a un fanático de Joyce
(1984)
Untranslated Novel written in 1983 in collaboration with A. G. Porta
Between Parentheses Entre paréntesis (2004) Natasha Wimmer, May 2011 Collection of essays, articles, and speeches (1998–2003)
Roberto Bolaño: The Last Interview & Other Conversations - Sybil Perez, November 2009 Collection of four interviews with Bolaño (1999–2003)
[''Bolaño By Himself''] Bolaño por sí mismo (2011) Untranslated Collection of interviews with Bolaño (1998–2003)

Pieces

Short stories

Note: Four essays collected within short-story books are listed here tagged with "[essay]".

English title Original Spanish title Original Spanish collection English collection
Sensini Sensini Llamadas Telefónicas, 1997 Last Evenings on Earth, 2006
Henri Simon Leprince Henri Simon Leprince Llamadas Telefónicas, 1997 Last Evenings on Earth, 2006
Enrique Martín Enrique Martín Llamadas Telefónicas, 1997 Last Evenings on Earth, 2006
A Literary Adventure Una Aventura Literaria Llamadas Telefónicas, 1997 Last Evenings on Earth, 2006
Phone Calls Llamadas Telefónicas Llamadas Telefónicas, 1997 Last Evenings on Earth, 2006
The Grub El Gusano Llamadas Telefónicas, 1997 Last Evenings on Earth, 2006
Snow La Nieve Llamadas Telefónicas, 1997 The Return, 2010
Another Russian Tale Otro Cuento Ruso Llamadas Telefónicas, 1997 The Return, 2010
William Burns William Burns Llamadas Telefónicas, 1997 The Return, 2010
Detectives Detectives Llamadas Telefónicas, 1997 The Return, 2010
Cell Mates Compañeros de Celda Llamadas Telefónicas, 1997 The Return, 2010
Clara Clara Llamadas Telefónicas, 1997 The Return, 2010
Joanna Silvestri Joanna Silvestri Llamadas Telefónicas, 1997 The Return, 2010
Anne Moore's Life Vida de Anne Moore Llamadas Telefónicas, 1997 Last Evenings on Earth, 2006
Mauricio ("The Eye") Silva El Ojo Silva Putas Asesinas, 2001 Last Evenings on Earth, 2006
Gómez Palacio Gómez Palacio Putas Asesinas, 2001 Last Evenings on Earth, 2006
Last Evenings on Earth Últimos Atardeceres en la Tierra Putas Asesinas, 2001 Last Evenings on Earth, 2006
Days of 1978 Días de 1978 Putas Asesinas, 2001 Last Evenings on Earth, 2006
Vagabond in France and Belgium Vagabundo en Francia y Bélgica Putas Asesinas, 2001 Last Evenings on Earth, 2006
Prefiguration of Lalo Cura Prefiguración de Lalo Cura Putas Asesinas, 2001 The Return, 2010
Murdering Whores Putas Asesinas Putas Asesinas, 2001 The Return, 2010
The Return El Retorno Putas Asesinas, 2001 The Return, 2010
Buba Buba Putas Asesinas, 2001 The Return, 2010
Dentist Dentista Putas Asesinas, 2001 Last Evenings on Earth, 2006
Photos Fotos Putas Asesinas, 2001 The Return, 2010
Dance Card Carnet de Baile Putas Asesinas, 2001 Last Evenings on Earth, 2006
Encuentro con Enrique Lihn Putas Asesinas, 2001 The Return, 2010
Jim Jim El Gaucho Insufrible, 2003 The Insufferable Gaucho, 2010;
Between Parentheses, 2011
The Insufferable Gaucho El Gaucho Insufrible El Gaucho Insufrible, 2003 The Insufferable Gaucho, 2010
Police Rat El Policía de las Ratas El Gaucho Insufrible, 2003 The Insufferable Gaucho, 2010
Alvaro Rousselot’s Journey El Viaje de Álvaro Rousselot El Gaucho Insufrible, 2003 The Insufferable Gaucho, 2010
Two Catholic Tales Dos Cuentos Católicos El Gaucho Insufrible, 2003 The Insufferable Gaucho, 2010
Literature + Illness = Illness
[essay]
Literatura + Enfermedad = Enfermedad El Gaucho Insufrible, 2003 The Insufferable Gaucho, 2010
The Myths of Cthulhu
[essay]
Los Mitos de Cthulhu El Gaucho Insufrible, 2003 The Insufferable Gaucho, 2010
Colonia Lindavista La Colonia Lindavista El Secreto del Mal, 2007 The Secret of Evil, 2012
The Secret of Evil El Secreto del Mal El Secreto del Mal, 2007 The Secret of Evil, 2012
The Old Man of the Mountain El Viejo de la Montaña El Secreto del Mal, 2007 The Secret of Evil, 2012
The Colonel's Son El Hijo del Coronel El Secreto del Mal, 2007 The Secret of Evil, 2012
Scholars of Sodom Sabios de Sodoma El Secreto del Mal, 2007 The Secret of Evil, 2012
The Room Next Door La Habitación de al Lado El Secreto del Mal, 2007 The Secret of Evil, 2012
Labyrinth Laberinto El Secreto del Mal, 2007 The Secret of Evil, 2012
Vagaries of the Literature of Doom
[essay]
Derivas de la Pesada El Secreto del Mal, 2007 The Secret of Evil, 2012;
Between Parentheses, 2011
Crimes Crímenes El Secreto del Mal, 2007 The Secret of Evil, 2012
I Can't Read No Sé Leer El Secreto del Mal, 2007 The Secret of Evil, 2012
Beach [short story, <br>originally considered an essay] Playa El Secreto del Mal, 2007 The Secret of Evil, 2012;
Between Parentheses, 2011
Muscles Músculos El Secreto del Mal, 2007 The Secret of Evil, 2012
The Tour La Gira El Secreto del Mal, 2007 The Secret of Evil, 2012
Daniela Daniela El Secreto del Mal, 2007 The Secret of Evil, 2012
Suntan Bronceado El Secreto del Mal, 2007 The Secret of Evil, 2012
Death of Ulises Muerte de Ulises El Secreto del Mal, 2007 The Secret of Evil, 2012
The Trouble-maker El Provocador El Secreto del Mal, 2007 The Secret of Evil, 2012
Sevilla Kills Me
[essay]
Sevilla me Mata El Secreto del Mal, 2007 The Secret of Evil, 2012;
Between Parentheses, 2011
The Days of Chaos Las Jornadas del Caos El Secreto del Mal, 2007 The Secret of Evil, 2012
Mexican manifesto[1] Manifesto Mexicano El espíritu de la ciencia-ficción, 2016 postscript to The Spirit of Science Fiction, 2018
Cowboy Graves Sepulcros de vaqueros Sepulcros de vaqueros, 2017 Cowboy Graves, 2021
Fatherland Patria Sepulcros de vaqueros, 2017 Cowboy Graves, 2021
French Comedy of Horrors Comedia del horror de Francia Sepulcros de vaqueros, 2017 Cowboy Graves, 2021

Poems

English title Original Spanish title Collection Notes
The Romantic DogsLos Perros RománticosThe Romantic Dogs; The Unknown University
Self Portrait at Twenty YearsAutorretrato a los viente añosThe Romantic Dogs; The Unknown University
Resurrection Resurrección The Romantic Dogs; The Unknown University
In the Reading Room of HellThe Romantic Dogs; The Unknown University
SoniSoni The Romantic Dogs
Ernesto Cardenal and IErnesto Cardenal y yo The Romantic Dogs; The Unknown University
Day Bleeding RainThe Romantic Dogs
The WormEl Gusano The Romantic Dogs; The Unknown University
LupeLupe The Romantic Dogs; The Unknown University
The Front LineLos Artilleros The Romantic Dogs; The Unknown University
La Francesa La francesa The Romantic Dogs
The Outsider ApeEl mono exterior The Romantic Dogs
Dirty, Poorly DressedThe Romantic Dogs
I Dreamt of Frozen DetectivesThe Romantic Dogs; The Unknown University
The DetectivesThe Romantic Dogs; The Unknown University
The Lost DetectivesThe Romantic Dogs; The Unknown University
The Frozen DetectivesThe Romantic Dogs; The Unknown University
FragmentsFragmentos The Romantic Dogs; The Unknown University
The Ghost of Edna Lieberman The Romantic Dogs; The Unknown University
Visit to the Convalescent The Romantic Dogs
Godzilla in Mexico The Romantic Dogs
Verses by Juan Ramón Versos de Juan Ramón The Romantic Dogs; The Unknown University
Dino Campana Revises His Biography
in Castel Pulci Psychiatric Hospital
The Romantic Dogs
Palingenesis Palingenesia The Romantic Dogs; The Unknown University
The Nurses The Romantic Dogs; The Unknown University
Twilight in Barcelona The Romantic Dogs; The Unknown University
The Greek The Romantic Dogs; The Unknown University
Mr. Wiltshire El senor Wiltshire The Romantic Dogs; The Unknown University
Rain Lluvia The Romantic Dogs; The Unknown University
Luck Lasuerte The Romantic Dogs; The Unknown University
X-Rays Rayos X The Romantic Dogs
The Last Love Song of
Pedro J. Lastarria, Alias "El Chorito"
The Romantic Dogs; The Unknown University
My Life in the Tubes of Survival The Romantic Dogs; The Unknown University
On the Edge of the Cliff The Romantic Dogs
Roadster The Romantic Dogs
The Last Savage The Romantic Dogs; The Unknown University
Half-Baked The Romantic Dogs
Atole Atole The Romantic Dogs; The Unknown University
The Donkey El burro The Romantic Dogs; The Unknown University
Parra's Footsteps The Romantic Dogs
I'll Try to Forget The Romantic Dogs
Muse Musa The Romantic Dogs; The Unknown University
With the Flies Entre las moscas The Romantic Dogs; The Unknown University
Prose from Autumn in Gerona Prosa del otono en Gerona Tres; The Unknown University 35 prose poems
The Neochileans Los neochilenos Tres; The Unknown University
A Stroll Through Literature Un paseo por la literatura Tres sequence of 57 poems
People Walking Away The Unknown University a slightly different version of Antwerp
Roberto Bolaño’s Devotion The Unknown University
Trees Arboles The Unknown University
The Monk El monje The Unknown University
The Snow-Novel La novela-nieve The Unknown University
Daybreak Amanecer The Unknown University
This is the honest Truth Esta es la pura verdad The Unknown University
Work El Trabajo The Unknown University
The Wigs of Barcelona Las pelucas de Barcelona The Unknown University
My Castles Mis Castillos The Unknown University
Chinese Poet in Barcelona Poeta Chino en Barcelona The Unknown University
My Poetry Mi poesia The Unknown University
Fucking Whistler Pendejo Whistler The Unknown University
Dickensian Children Niños de Dickens The Unknown University

Interviews with Bolaño

Name Interviewer Original publication Collected in
Literature Is Not Made from Words Alone Héctor Soto and Matias Bravo Capital Santiago, December 1999 Roberto Bolaño: The Last Interview & Other Conversations
Reading Is Always More Important than Writing Carmen Boullosa Bomb Magazine #78, Winter 2002 Roberto Bolaño: The Last Interview & Other Conversations
Positions Are Positions and Sex Is Sex Eliseo Álvarez Revista Cultural Turia 75, June 2005
(as "Roberto Bolaño: Todo escritor que escribe
en español deberia tener influencia cervantina"
Roberto Bolaño: The Last Interview & Other Conversations
The Last Interview / The End: Distant Star Monica Maristain Playboy Mexico, July 2003 Roberto Bolaño: The Last Interview & Other Conversations;
Between Parentheses

Works about Bolaño

Articles

Name Writer Original publication Collected in Available online
Roberto Bolaño: Portrait of the Writer as Noble Savage Will H. Corral World Literature Today, November - December 2006 - -
Vagabonds - Roberto Bolaño and his fractured masterpiece Daniel Zalewski The New Yorker, 26 March 2007 - The New Yorker
Precarious Crossing: Immigration, Neoliberalism, and the Atlantic Alexandra Perisic Ohio State University Press, 2019. 89-120. Print."How to Get Away with Murder: Multinational Corporations and Atlantic Crimes". Chapter 3 on Roberto Bolaño's novel 2666)"
The Great Bolaño Francisco Goldman The New York Review of Books, 19 July 2007 - -
In the Sonora Benjamin Kunkel London Review of Books, 6 September 2007 - London Review of Books
Alone Among the Ghosts Marcela Valdes The Nation, 8 December 2008 Introduction to Roberto Bolaño:
The Last Interview & Other Conversations
The Nation
Roberto Bolaño’s Flower War: Memory, Melancholy, and Pierre Menard. Ignacio López-Calvo , Ed. Ignacio López-Calvo. Palgrave Macmillan Publishing, 2015. 35-64. Print - -

Books

Title Author Publisher
Roberto Bolaño's Fiction: An Expanding Universe Chris Andrews Columbia University Press (July 29, 2014)
Bolaño: A Biography Monica Maristain Melville House (August 26, 2014)
Roberto Bolaño, a Less Distant Star: Critical Essays. Ignacio López-Calvo Palgrave Macmillan Publishing (March 25, 2015)
Framing Roberto Bolaño: Poetry, Fiction, Literary History, Politics Jonathan Beck Monroe Cambridge University Press (November 7, 2019)

Notes and References

  1. Bolaño, Roberto . Translated from the Spanish by Laura Healy . April 22, 2013 . Mexican manifesto . . 89 . 10 . 96–101 .