The Mouth of the Earth

<p>For Manuel Rivas words are the most sensitive of creatures. In the same way that frogs or glow-worms are the first to manifest signs of pollution in the natural environment words suffer as a result of corruption in the socio-political sphere. In his work as journalist writer of fiction poetry or essays he is consistent in his role as custodian of all sensitive creatures; his writings document historical damage and alert us to potential future harm to our natural linguistic and political eco-systems.</p><p>"Rivas is without doubt the most important figure (and the best known) in contemporary Galician literature […]. His fictions bear the tone of an oral tale."—Alberto Manguel</p><p>"Manuel Rivas is an important storyteller because he is sensitive and has an incredible ear which in his fiction is allied to great integrity."—John Berger</p><p>"Rivas is an indisputable classic" —<em>The Scotsman</em></p><p>"An author who knows how to introduce poetry not only in his phrasing but also in his way of seeing the world." — Raphaëlle Rérolle <em>Le Monde</em></p>