Collection context
Summary
- Creator:
- Di Giovanni, Norman Thomas
- Abstract:
- The di Giovanni, Norman Thomas mss., ca. 1953-1994, consists of the correspondence and writings of the author and translator, Norman Thomas di Giovanni, who is known for his collaboration with Argentine author Jorge Luis Borges.
- Extent:
- 37 Boxes
- Language:
- Materials are in English and Spanish
- Preferred citation:
[Item], di Giovanni, Norman Thomas mss., Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana.
Background
- Biographical / Historical:
Norman Thomas di Giovanni, 1933-2017, was an American-born author and translator. He was born in Newton, Massachusetts on October 3, 1933, and he was named after Norman Thomas, leader of the American Socialist Party. After graduating from Antioch College in 1955, di Giovanni collaborated with the Spanish poet Jorge Guillén, then on the faculty of Wellesley College, to produce a collection of English translations of fifty of Guillén's poems. In 1967 Di Giovanni began his collaborative work with author Jorge Luis Borges. Their first project was a collection of Borges poetry in Spanish and English titled Selected Poems, 1923-1967 (published in 1972). Over the next several years, di Giovanni would produce several more translations of Borges' works. He also wrote his own novel, Novecento, also known by the title 1900, based on a film by Bernardo Bertolucci. Di Giovanni lived in England for many years, becoming a British citizen in 1992. He died at Bournemouth on February 16, 2017.
- Scope and Content:
The Correspondence series consists of the correspondence of Norman Thomas di Giovanni, arranged alphabetically by correspondent. Correspondents include Jorge Luis Borges, Hugo Ditaranto, Robert Henderson, Barbara Howes, John Macrae, Frank MacShane, Marian Skedgell, and Mark Strand, as well as several universities, publishers, and fans.
The Jorge Luis Borges series includes di Giovanni's translation notes, drafts, proofs, and other materials related to several of Borges' works. Materials are organized into subseries by work.
Translation Files consists of materials related to di Giovanni's translations of other writers' works. Materials are organized into subseries by writer.
Writings and Works includes materials relating to works by di Giovanni, including What About Reb and 1900.
The Anthologies series includes materials pertaining to a collection of translations of poems by Jorge Guillén, published in 1965 as Cántico: a Selection.
- Acquisition information:
- Purchase: 2012
- Arrangement:
This collection is arranged into the following series: I. Correspondence, II. Jorge Luis Borges, III. Translation Files, IV. Writings and Works, V. Anthologies, VI. Writings by Others, VII. Personal, and VIII. Miscellaneous.
NOTE: Boxes 35 and 36 of this collection do not exist.
- Physical location:
- ALF (Auxiliary Library Facility)
Indexed Terms
Access
- RESTRICTIONS:
-
This collection is open for research.
Many collections are housed offsite; retrieval requires advance notice. Please make an appointment a minimum of one week in advance of your visit.
- TERMS OF ACCESS:
-
Photography and digitization may be restricted for some collections. Copyright restrictions may apply. Before publishing, researchers are responsible for securing permission from all applicable rights holders, then filling out the Permission to Publish form.
- PREFERRED CITATION:
-
[Item], di Giovanni, Norman Thomas mss., Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana.
- CAMPUS:
- Indiana University Bloomington
- LOCATION OF THIS COLLECTION:
-
1200 East Seventh StreetBloomington, Indiana 47405-5500, USA
- CAMPUS:
- Indiana University Bloomington
- CONTACT:
-
(812) 855-2452liblilly@iu.edu