European Immigrants in Ricardo Piglia's Novels. Parallel Readings of Artificial Respiration and the Absent City

Abstract

Most of the characters in the novels of Ricardo Piglia, La ciudad ausente and Respiracion artifical are European immigrants who play decisive roles. They are Italians, Germans, Russians, Bulgarians and Hungarians. They are intellectuals, artists, workers and conspirators. Their simple presence fits in the Argentinian society with their personal, national history, traditions, language and culture. They express their opinion and reflect on the historic present and past of their country of origin, while they speak and react to the present of their country of residence. This creates two unmistakable focal points at the same time: one Argentinian and one European.