My dear diary

In a rare interview, Mario Levrero (1940–2004), born in Montevideo, Uruguay, said that his influences did not come solely from literary sources: “It’s like expecting a cheese producer to eat only cheese.”

The phrase reflects two characteristics of his literature: humor and the abundance of forms and themes.

Originally published in Spanish in 1996, The Empty Discourse has now arrived in Brazil. The book features a narrative divided into two sections, one called Exercises and the other The Discourse, which alternate throughout the book's 150 pages.

Both are in the form of diaries, combining the author's reality with fiction. With a light and personal prose, Levrero engages with his readers in intimate conversation.

The chapters grouped under the title Exercises are the result of calligraphy activities, done by hand by the narrator in his notebook, and present a style of writing that is based on the “deep relationship between the letter and character traits”.

In The Discourse, more free-flowing, the author follows the flow of thoughts, arguing that it is "nothingness" that can reveal something deeper, more authentic. In this process, he talks about his daily life, his family, his dog Pongo—in short, about the little things in the world around him.

EMPTY SPEECH. Mario Levrero. Translation: Antonio Xerxenesky. Companhia das Letras (160 pages 89.90 reais)

The diary entries span from 1989 to 1991 and record the thoughts and actions of a depressed writer, struggling with eczema that constantly bothers him. Yet, there's a humor, sometimes naive, sometimes sinister. Levrero speaks of himself with great sincerity, devoid of self-pity.

The narrator's poetic streak also shines through at times, such as in this entry from October 26, 1990: "These days, spring has burst forth, or rather, asserted itself forcefully on all sides. Our garden has filled with plants we didn't plant, which appear here and there as if on their own initiative, or inspired by the terrain, and which, day by day, develop rapidly, take hold, and grow."

Since the publication of A Luminous Romance, written over many years but only published after his death in 2005, his literature has achieved a new place on the Latin American scene.

Recognized during his lifetime in Uruguay and Argentina – where he lived –, it was only posthumously that Levrero conquered the world with his novels, short stories and comic books. •

Published in issue no. 1374 of CartaCapital , on August 13, 2025.

This text appears in the print edition of CartaCapital under the title 'My dear diary'