Looking beyond borders: Antonio Tabucchi's mandala

Abstract

Per Isabel  is Antonio Tabucchi’s posthumous novel, published in 2013, but written in the same period as the ‘portuguese trilogy’ (1991-1997). Its delayed publication is likely related to the subtitle, Un mandala. This article retraces the links between Per Isabel and Tabucchi’s other novels, with which it shares themes settings and characters, in order to shed light on why the author regarded at it as his ultimate novel. The discussion also draws on manuscript materials preserved in the Tabucchi fund at the BnF.