Savage Theories by Pola Oloixarac
Argentinian writer Pola Oloixarac’s controversial and acclaimed debut novel, published in the UK for the first time, is a wild treatise on historic violence
When Pola Oloixarac’s debut novel was first published in Argentina, it became a controversial success. Between its scatological sexuality, its heretic takes on the country’s foundational mythology and national identity, and its poignant criticism of Buenos Aires’ intellectual class, it is easy to see why Savage Theories has been causing quite a buzz for almost two decades.
Now published in the UK for the first time, this translation from Spanish by Roy Kesey brings readers to the Argentinian capital in the tense years that followed the Dirty War. Its protagonists, the politically militant and sexually adventurous couple formed by Little Kamtchowsky and Pabst, as well as Rose Ostreech, the seductive and obsessive narrator, are the natural product of these brutal years, the cynical youth that moves between academic circles and the city’s violent underworld.
Savage Theories is funny but it can be exhausting. Transparently proud of its own sharpness, this novel relies on dense philosophical tirades to drive its satire. This unrelenting philosophising could come across as pretentious, even obnoxious, if not for the fact that Oloixarac’s work is supported by enough substance to justify the tedium. The author has a point (or several) to make. This novel is a wild treatise on historic violence, on the power it has to shape all aspects of modern culture and society.