Basque is one of the oldest languages in Europe, and here are 50 books in Basque to read free in PDF. They run from the first book ever printed in Euskara, in 1545, to world classics in translation.
You'll find original Basque literature next to the great novels of the world. There's Axular's prose, Txomin Agirre's novels, the poetry of Lizardi and Lauaxeta, and Madame Bovary or Hamlet in Basque.
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Basque Classics
Classic Basque Literature
These books in Basque go from Axular's Gero (1643), the peak of Basque prose, to Txomin Agirre's novels of the sea and the mountains. They're the works that shaped written literature in Euskara.
The masterpiece of classical Basque prose, published in 1643. A moral treatise against putting everything off until later, written with a richness of language that is still the model for literary Basque.
Considered the first novel written in Basque, around 1802. Dialogues between a wise Biscayan farmer and a town barber paint rural life and defend the richness of the language.
A short novel from 1889 and a gem of Northern Basque literature. The life of a character from rural Lapurdi, told with humor in lively, popular Basque.
A 1906 novel set in the fishing port of Ondarroa. It portrays the lives of Basque fishermen and their bond with the sea, and it's one of the great classics of Basque fiction.
Txomin Agirre's mountain novel, published in 1912. It follows a family of shepherds in the farmhouses around Arantzazu and is seen as the high point of the Basque novel of customs.
A 1924 collection of stories to read by the fire, just as the title says. Everyday tales from the Northern Basque Country, told with tenderness and humor.
The first part of Jean Barbier's novel, published in 1926. It tells the childhood and youth of a boy from the Northern Basque Country, with a vivid picture of rural life.
Basque poetry starts with Bernard Etxepare's Linguae Vasconum Primitiae, the first book printed in the language in 1545. The section runs up to Lizardi and Lauaxeta, who renewed Basque lyric poetry before the war.
Christmas carols written in 1762 by Xabier Munibe, Count of Peñaflorida and a driving force of the Basque Enlightenment, to be sung in the church of Azkoitia.
The first book ever printed in Basque, in 1545. Poems of love and faith, plus a song in praise of the language itself, that opened the history of Basque literature.
Arnaud Oihenart's poems of youth, published in 1657. 17th-century love poetry with carefully crafted meter that set the standard for learned verse in Basque.
The great poetry collection of Felipe Arrese Beitia, published in 1900. Verses devoted to the Basque language, the land and faith, by the most popular poet of his time.
Lauaxeta's first book of poems, published in 1931. Modern poetry that brought European symbolism into Basque and opened new paths, just as its title promises.
These are world classics translated into Basque, most of them for the Literatura Unibertsala collection. You'll find Shakespeare, Flaubert, Tolstoy and Virginia Woolf, all in complete editions.
Shakespeare's tragedy translated into Basque by Juan Garzia Garmendia. The prince of Denmark and his revenge, in the reference Basque version of the play.
Kipling's novel translated into Basque by Koro Navarro. An orphan travels across India with a Tibetan lama and gets caught up in the spy games of the empire.
Here are Basque folk tales and fables, plus stories by Poe, Andersen and Maupassant. They're short reads you can finish in one sitting, ideal for practicing the language.
The Basque folk tales Wentworth Webster collected from storytellers in Lapurdi in the 19th century. Giants, lamias and enchanted princes from the oral tradition.
These are illustrated books in Basque to read aloud with little ones, including Lewis Carroll's Alice. The kamishibai include the full text in Basque and Spanish, handy for families learning together.
An illustrated kamishibai about tantrums and how to calm them. A trilingual edition with the full text in Basque, Spanish and English, made for reading aloud.
An illustrated kamishibai about Bruno, who looks for someone to play with while all his friends are busy. A bilingual Basque-Spanish edition that invites the audience to join in.
