Aleš Šteger

Aleš Šteger (b. 1973) holds degrees in Comparative Literature Studies and German Language Studies. His published works include five poetry collections, the most recent beeing The Book of Bodies (2010), a travelogue detailing his experiences in Peru titled Sometimes January Comes in the Middle of Summer (1999) and two book of short prose, Berlin (2007) and Ten Essentials for the Road (2010). Šteger is the most translated author of the younger generation, with his poems being warmly accepted by readers and critics alike. In addition to his artistic achievements Šteger has also achieved recognition as a translator, a co-founder and programme director (1996-2004) of the international poetry festival in Medana and as an editor of the Koda theory imprint. Šteger's literary efforts have been aimed at exploring the relations between literature and other fine arts, including visual arts and music. He is the recipient of numerous prestigious awards and scholarships.

From his first book of poems, Chessboards of Hours, published in 1995 when he was 22 years old, Aleš Šteger has been considered one of Slovenia’s most promising poets. That promise has been unleashed over the course of a decade and a half, through three more books of poetry (Kashmir, Protuberances, and The Book of Things), a fictional travelogue in Peru (January in the Middle of Summer), and a collection of lyric essays (Berlin), which received an award for being the best book of essays written in Slovenian. The philosophical and lyrical sophistication of his poems, along with his work as a leading book editor and festival organizer, earned Šteger a reputation that quickly traveled beyond the borders of Slovenia. The international reach of his work seems appropriate considering its international concerns and refusal to acknowledge limits to, or boundaries of, art, thought, and even genre. Although grounded in and growing from his home country, Šteger’s work in multiple genres and on many fronts testifies to his growing stature as one of Central Europe’s most essential literary figures.

More at: www.alessteger.com

Sample translations

English - "Ten Essentials for the Road" (2010) / Translated by: Gregor Timothy Čeh English - "The Book of Things" (2010) / Translated by: Gregor Timothy Čeh German - "Protuberanzen" (2002)

Translated so far

2001 / Kaschmir / German / Editoin Korrespondenzen, Wienna 2002 / Protuberance / Slovak / Drewo a srd, Bratislava 2003 / Protuberance / Croatian / Meander, Zagreb, Croatia 2002 / Nekdy je leden uprostred leta / Czech / Vetrny mlyny, Praga 2005 / Protuberancias / Spanish / Arequin, Guadalajara, Mexico 2006 / Buch der Dinge / german / Suhrkamp, Frankfurt am Main 2007 / Knjiga stvari / Bosnian / Bosanska riječ, Tuzla 2007 / Katkad je sječan usred ljeta / Croatian / Meander, Zagreb 2009 / Preußenpark, Berliner Skizzen / German / Suhrkamp, Frankfurt am Main 2009 / Berlin / Serbian / Arhipelag, Belgrade 2009 / Berlino / Italian / Zandonai 2010 / Berlin / Croatian / Meander, Zagreb 2010 / El Guant / Spanish / Pen Catala, Barcelona 2010 / The Book of Things / English / BOA Editions, Rochester, USA

From the media

"Šteger fascinates you with his jesting and intellect."
FAZ, October 2006 "Fifty things, fifty exceptionally rich poetic inventions. Aleš Šteger may yet pleasently surprise us."
Neue Züricher Zeitung, February, 2007 "Simply one of the most enjoyable poets to read in Europe right now."
3 a.m. Magazine - click to read the interview