Erasmus in Borges, Borges in Erasmus: First Surveys of an Unexplored Genealogy

Abstract

It seems impossible to identify areas of the Borgesian corpus that have not been studied by experts from all latitudes and periods, but in fact this is true in relation to the presence of the Dutch humanist Erasmus of Rotterdam. Taking as a starting point similarities in content and style between Erasmus’ The Praise of Folly and some of Borges’ narrative prose, essays and poems, as well as, conversely, from eight occurrences of Erasmus in seven of Borges’ short essays, this article aims to stress this literary relationship. This pioneering though certainly not exhaustive study also unearths a wide and unexpected network of authors linking Erasmo and Borges across centuries and continents.