'Outside Paradise' published in English

Michael Eaude has praised the book in The Times Literary Supplement

At Adam’s funeral, Eve remembers how frightened he was on leaving Paradise and catching flu. But in old age, he had confided to her that he was glad to have left, because outside Paradise life exists, with its “love, fear and death”. Eve grieves for Adam at his tomb, then she stops crying and the mourners all go off for a drink. This playful but serious poem is the first in this potpourri of a book, a mixture of stories, poetry and accounts of Bernardo Atxaga’s readings, in prisons across France and Spain, and in two French villages. (…) In Obabakoak, as in Outside Paradise, Atxaga’s characters often communicate with animals. In this collection’s first story, Pierre adores his bees and wonders whether Margarita’s soul has entered a woodpecker that he hears. Though this may sound twee, it’s not, for in Atxaga’s work, nature is not benevolent, and his sentences are hard and clear, like polished pearls.

Among other materials, nineteen poems appear in the book, and their English translations are accompanied by the original Basque.

A literary blog, Tony's Reading List, has also recommended Outside Paradise:

Outside Paradise is a lovely read, a clever blend of poems, stories and anecdotes about the writer’s reading tours, and I’m sure I won’t be the only reader to have fun following Atxaga’s experiences on the road. Whether you’re here for the prison tour, the snowy days or the poor hedgehog, this is a journey you’re bound to enjoy, and if you’re curious about the Basque language – well, that’s just an added bonus. Many thanks must go to Jull Costa both for her usual excellent work and for pointing me in the book’s direction in the first place. I can’t say I’m keen to experience prison first-hand, but this vicarious spell inside was certainly worth the time.

The book's available translations, here in this site. This latest English edition, you may get it at Francis Boutle Publishers.