Sometimes a single act can resonate across the ages, its impact felt through generations, both politically and personally. In 1914, the feminist suffragette Mary Richardson slashed a painting called “The Rokeby Venus” by Diego Velasquez in the National Gallery in London, to raise awareness for the feminist cause.

This event is the central trauma driving the great novel “Asunder”, written by my guest today, the Mexican & American novelist Chloe Aridjis and published 10 years ago. Her main protagonist, Marie, is a museum guard at the National Gallery, for whom the slashing has a very personal aspect, as her great-grandfather was the guard on duty at the time of the attack in 1914, who failed to stop the attack. 

This is a subtle and contemplative novel that asks questions around the small crack and large tears around our lives. In today’s episode, we talk about Chloe’s writing process and methods, the direction of her novel, the central event of the 1914 slashing and how it compares to today’s actions. As usual, I also ask Chloe about her inspirations and recommendations in terms of books she’s read and enjoyed. 

• Her favourite book that I’ve never heard of: “The Haunted Screen”, by Lotte Eisner


• Her favourite book of the last 12 months: “The Blue Fox”, by Sjon


• The book she would take to a desert island: The short stories of Franz Kafka


• The book that changed her mind: The works of Thomas Bernhard


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Buy Asunder: https://amzn.eu/d/0PBQJy2

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