An often humorous book-length meditation on the art of literary translation which, to Manguel's mind, is the keenest form of reading.

The Reverse Side of the Tapestry is the definition Cervantes gives of translation in Don Quixote; here, it is an essay on the translator's craft. Alberto Manguel has been a translator of many great writers - Borges and Marguerite Yourcenar into English; Katherine Mansfield and Paul Eluard into Spanish. In this book-length essay he delivers an eloquent meditation on the art of literary translation which, to Manguel's mind, is the keenest form of reading. Featuring original illustrations from Manguel himself.