Eduardo Galeano

Eduardo Galeano

Eduardo Galeano, author of Mirrors: Stories of Almost Everyone, has some surprising favourite composers.

1. What’s your primary weakness?

Worrying about nonsense.

2. What’s your favourite thing to do?

Walk on the seashore, or along the riverbank in Montevideo.

3. What’s your idea of perfect happiness?

To frighten away forever the mosquitos which fly around inside my head.

4. What is your greatest fear?

Losing my sight.

5. What would you like to be?

A writer

6. Where would you like to live?

In Montevide.

7. Who are your favourite prose writers?

Juan Rulfo.

8. Who are your favourite poets?

The poets who Franco shot or imprisoned or exiled or banned.

9. Who are your favourite heroes from fiction?

I don’t have any.

10. Who are your favourite composers?

The birds.

11. And your favourite painters?

The dawn and the twilight.

12. What do you hate more than anything?

Solemnity.

13. What historical figures do you scorn most?

The most successful.

14. What military action do you admire most?

I don’t admire military actions.

15. What reform do you most admire?

The reforms that José Artigas wanted to make.

16. What natural gifts would you like to possess?

Hair.

17. How would you like to die?

I wouldn’t.

18. How are your spirits at the moment?

The ususal. My spirit is a curious beetle.

19. What provokes most indulgence in you?

If you want indulgences, ask the Pope in Rome.

20. What’s your motto?

Live and let live.