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Dolores Koch Collection of Reinaldo Arenas
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Held at: Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division [Contact Us]
This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.
Overview and metadata sections
Born in Havana, Cuba, Dolores Koch emigrated to the United States with her family in 1961. In 1986, she received her doctorate in Latin American literature from the City University of New York. Koch has published English translations of Arenas's Antes que anochezca and El portero as well as works by other Latin American authors. Her other notable work includes an English translation of the memoir of Oskar Schindler's widow, Where Light and Shadow Meet.
The collection consists of working papers of Reinaldo Arenas collected by Dolores Koch, his friend and preferred translator. Much of the material concerns the publication of Arenas's work and its translation into English. Explanatory notes by Koch accompany some items.
"Dolores Koch: Perfil profesional" at El Cuento en Red consulted during preparation of biographical note.
Materials appearing in this collection have been published under the following titles: Antes que anochezca (Barcelona: Tusquets Editores, 1992), Before Night Falls (New York: Viking Penguin, 1993), Farewell to the Sea, a Novel of Cuba (New York, N.Y.: Viking, 1986), La loma del angel (Barcelona: DADOR/Ediciones, 1987), Mona and Other Tales, (New York: Vintage, 2001), Otra vez el mar (Barcelona: Editorial Argos Vergara, 1982), El portero (Miami: Ediciones Universal, 1990).
Gift of Dolores Koch in February 2005.
For preservation reasons, original analog and digital media may not be read or played back in the reading room. Users may visually inspect physical media, but may not remove it from its enclosure. All analog audiovisual media must be digitized to preservation-quality standards prior to use. Patrons may request digital copies of original analog media, but will be responsible for the cost of digital conversion, payable in advance. Turn-around time for such requests will depend on the size and scope of the project. Requests should be directed to Special Collections Public Services staff through the Ask Us! form.
This collection was processed by Danielle Ford in February 2005. Finding aid written by Danielle Ford in February 2005.
Audiovisual materials from this collection were digitized in 2017.
Nothing was removed from the collection.
People
Subject
- Publisher
- Manuscripts Division
- Finding Aid Author
- Danielle Ford
- Finding Aid Date
- 2005
- Access Restrictions
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Open for research.
- Use Restrictions
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Manuscripts may not be copied in any manner (Xerox, microfilm, etc.) No further photoduplication of copies of material in the collection can be made when Princeton University Library does not own the original. Inquiries regarding publishing material from the collection should be directed to RBSC Public Services staff through the Ask Us! form. The library has no information on the status of literary rights in the collection and researchers are responsible for determining any questions of copyright.
Collection Inventory
Organized into the following file groups: Books and Talks.
Consists of the writings of Reinaldo Arenas, including books and talks.
Physical Description1 box
Contains a corrected typescript of Antes que anochezca, a photocopy of the unpublished Cecilia Valdes, and a typescript of Part One of La loma del angel.
Arranged alphabetically by title.
Physical Description1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Contains typescripts of "La vanguardia como una re-escritura de la libertad" and "Muerte de Lezama," as well as typewritten notes on the presentation of Otra vez el mar, with a printed flyer announcing the event.
Arranged by date.
Physical Description1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Arrangement has no apparent organization scheme.
Contains a typewritten contract (with holographic corrections) for the publication of Arenas's works, presented to Dolores Koch. Also includes Arenas's instructions for translating Otra vez el mar, cover blurbs for El portero, and proofs for book covers for two English translations: Before Night Falls and Mona and Other Tales.
Physical Description1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
The correspondence prominently features members of Arenas's publication team and includes material relating to the "Colchie affair," a 1993 conflict between Arenas's agent, Thomas Colchie, and the Camachos. Also featured are letters written by Dolores Koch to Julian Schnabel, suggesting changes to the script for his 1999 movie Before Night Falls. Correspondents include Dolores Koch, Roberto Valero, Thomas Colchie, and Jorge and Margarita Camacho.
Arranged by date within each file.
Physical Description1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Organized into the following file groups: Arenas, family, and friends and Cuba.
Contains originals and some photocopies of black-and-white and color photographs of Arenas and his family and friends, as well as pictures taken in 1996 by Liliane Hasson of Arenas's family and his room in Cuba.
Physical Description1 box
1 folder
1 folder
Arrangement has no apparent organization scheme.
Contains a photocopy of Arenas's will and his handwritten addendum, a partial script for the film Before Night Falls, the Camachos' response to Cabrera Infante's "Mea Cuba," and miscellaneous clippings pertaining to Arenas and his work.
Physical Description1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
32101047383466_1_a.mp3
1 audiocassette; musical recording (2 songs) dated 1988. Recording with Olivier Ameisen and Reinaldo Arenas. Produced by Arif Mardin at Atlantic Studios. Side B is blank.
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder