Center for Basque Studies Newsletter ISSN: 1537-2464 Center for Basque Studies N E W S L E T T E R UNR Gathers to Celebrate Center’s FALL New Robert Laxalt Biography Warren Lerude, professor emeritus 2013 at the Donald W. Reynolds School of Journalism at the University of Nevada, Reno, best-selling author, winner of the Pulitzer Prize, and friend of Robert NUMBER 81 Laxalt for more than 30 years, took it upon himself to fully tell the story of acclaimed Nevada writer and celebrated Basque-American citizen Robert Laxalt. In this issue The result, Robert Laxalt: The Story of a Storyteller, published in September Laxalt Biography 1 by the Center for Basque Studies Press, was the cause for a celebration hosted Carmelo Ortiz de Elgea by the Journalism School, the Special and Symposium on Art 3 Collection’s of the UNR Mathewson- IGT Knowledge Center, and the College Photo by Theresa Danna-Douglas Basque Ambassador 4 of Liberal Arts that hosted, among many Warren Lerude signing copies of his book other Nevada dignitaries, UNR Presi- at the UNR event Douglass Scholar 4-5 dent Marc Johnson and the Dean of the notes, letters, manuscripts, and spoke with innumerable people who knew the CBS Graduate Students 5 College of Liberal Arts, Heather Hardy; Dean of Libraries, Kathlin L. Ray; and writer in a professional and personal In Memoriam 6 Dean of the Reynold’s School of Jour- capacity. nalism, Alan Stravitsky. When it was her turn to speak, Gernika Bombing Revisited 7 Warren Lerude and Robert Laxalt’s Nicky Laxalt drew upon a deep well of daughter, Monique (Nicky), spoke love, gratitude, and respect that she had Faculty News 8 at the September 25 event, as did the not only for her father, but also for her respective deans. Lerude also signed close friend Lerude, and what an honor Kalakan Visits UNR 9 copies of his book for some 150 fans it was for the whole Laxalt family to see and friends of Robert Laxalt who were such a warm, intimate, and detailed ac- USAC Study Abroad 10-11 in attendance. Lerude spoke at length count of Laxalt’s life published. Indeed, she compared Lerude’s new book to her CBS Books 12–13 about the development of the book. Lerude said, “The odyssey of this book father’s 1957 classic, saying that both Oui Oui Oui Excerpt 14 began with an idea from my long-time books were the products of great love friend and colleague, Bruce Bledsoe. for the subject (in her father’s case, his Bruce brought it to my attention that of father, Dominique) and that they would Newsletter Subscription 15 both surely stand the test of time. and Book Order Form the 17 books Laxalt wrote, there was no autobiography. With a little help from In this new biography, Lerude focus- Joyce (Bob’s wife of 52 years) and their es on Laxalt’s development as a writer. daughters Monique (an attorney and He talks about Laxalt’s small town novelist) and Kristin (a physician) I de- upbringing in Carson City, his childhood cided to take on the project.” However, bouts with sickness (which served to he admitted that the project kept him open up the world of books and read- awake many nights, and that through ing to the future author), his besting of poor health and subsequent excellence in An annual publication of the the process he learned much about his Center for Basque Studies close friend, as he dug around in his local sports, especially boxing. Laxalt’s University of Nevada, Reno Reno, NV 89557-2322 (continued on page 2) 1 Center for Basque Studies Newsletter Olentzero is the lovable, often over- (Story of a Storyteller, continued) weight, Basque Santa Claus who helps de- World War II–era service in Africa, was in turn extremely influential in liver holiday cheer in the Basque Country. and his illness of malaria while there is making Basques visible on the national He is usually depicted as having a huge treated, then his return to the University and world stage, and was an extremely appetite, wearing humble farmers’ cloth- of Nevada and his courtship and mar- important writer in the West and in the ing, a Basque beret, traditional abarketa riage with his beloved wife (to whom Basque community.” shoes and smoking a pipe. The Olentzero his books were invariably dedicated). Many others have also weighed in tradition varies across the Basque Coun- Then Lerude turns to Laxalt’s formative on the new book’s importance, including try and dates back centuries. It is now a days as a journalist in Reno and Carson Joe Crowley, president emeritus of UNR: Christmas Eve tradition for groups of City. His struggles to hone his craft “There is no one better suited to tell the children to carry effigies of Olentzero while providing for a growing family, story of a great storyteller than someone through the streets on a chair, singing and finally his turn to writing books and who fits that description himself. War- Olentzero carols and collecting sweets. national journalism. From the famous ren has given us a remarkable chronicle account of Robert’s struggle to find the of the life of Nevada legend Robert voice in Sweet Promised Land to less- Laxalt. It is a book that is thoroughly well-known anecdotes such as Laxalt’s researched, crisply written and honest to reporting on executions at the Nevada a fault. This is a biography about a man, State Prison (and eventual refusal to do Bob Laxalt, who richly deserves one. It so, saying “they could have their job will surely stand the test of time.” And before I’d go back”) and on-assignment National Humanities scholar and author work for National Geographic magazine Clay Jenkinson said, “Warren Lerude’s in Argentina, New Mexico, and the superb new study illuminates the life and Basque Country, the book takes a de- artistry of Laxalt. Anyone who wants to tailed look at the writing, professional, understand the pastoral tradition of the and family life of Laxalt. American West needs to read the works Laxalt, whose journalism, creative of Robert Laxalt.” nonfiction, and fiction made him a -na Since its publication the book has re- tional and international literary figure, is ceived great press in The Nevada Appeal, the most acclaimed writer to hail from the Las Vegas Review Journal, the Reno Give Basque Books this Christmas! the state of Nevada in modern times. Gazette Journal, as well as many other His 1957 classic, Sweet Promised Land, media outlets. Lerude has also promoted (or treat yourself) not only brought to life the immigrant the book at Reno’s independent Sun- experience of the Basques who had dance bookstore. The book is available Join the Basque Book Club! come to the United States as sheepherd- on our web store, www.basquebooks. Get a Basque book a month for a ers. It all served as an exemplary story myshopify.com, or just call the Center for all immigrants to the United States. and we’ll be more than happy to help get year for only $195 Laxalt went on to found and head the you a copy! Call or visit University of Nevada Press, to write basque.unr.edu/books-club many more popular and critically ac- claimed books, and to be nominated for the Pulitzer Prize on a number of The Center for Basque Studies occasions. Newsletter is an annual publication For the Center, the biography is that is available to any interested the inaugural book in a new series, readers. Basque Originals, which presents lively, entertaining, and informative The Center for Basque Studies Newsletter is published by: books on a variety of subjects relat- ing to the experience of being Basque Center for Basque Studies / 2322 and Basques around the world. “It was University of Nevada, Reno entirely natural that a biography of Reno, NV 89557-2322 Robert Laxalt would serve to launch e-mail us at: [email protected] this new series,” said Daniel Montero, phone: 775.784.4854 publications editor for the Center for fax: 775.784.1355 Basque Studies. “Robert Laxalt was in many ways a seminal figure for Basque Please visit our web site at: www.basque.unr.edu Americans. He was a key person who helped create the Basque Studies Pro- Daniel Montero gram at the University and the Basque Publications Editor library. He served as the first director of the University of Nevada Press; helped The University of Nevada, Reno is an Equal with the campaigns of his brother, Paul Opportunity / Affirmative Action, ADA institu- Laxalt, who as a senator from Nevada tion. 11/2011, 7,900. 2 Center for Basque Studies Newsletter Carmelo Ortiz de Elgea Exhibits at Nevada Symposium on Art and Museum of Art Politics The Center for Basque Studies has sponsored Coinciding with the visit of 2012-2013 the exhibition of painter Carmelo Ortiz de Douglass Scholars, Adelina Moya and Jesus Elgea open at the Nevada Museum of Art, Arpal, the CBS held its annual symposium running until to January 5, 2014. 2–4 May 2013, this time on the topic of art Ortiz de Elgea (Aretxabaleta, 1944) is one of the most well known painters living and politics. Titled Beyond Guernica and and working today in the southern Basque the Guggenheim: Relations Between Art and Country. Ortiz de Elgea rose to prominence in Politics from a Comparative Perspective, the Basque art world of the 1970s, following the symposium gathered fourteen interna- the emergence of the Modern art movement, tional experts from different disciplines to which had become a galvanizing force among share their thoughts and research on the artists in Spain seeking a progressive alterna- relationship between art and politics in tive to the oppressive regime of General contemporary society.