Trans-Exile: A Method for Understanding Exile at its Intersections. Illustrated by the Case Study of Rosa Chacel and Angel Rosenblat

This study introduces and explores the innovative concept of “trans-exile”, defined as the point where exiles intersect. The trans-exilic method, in contrast to traditional approaches that focus on specific spatiotemporal contexts, offers a perspective that reveals the interconnectedness of exiles beyond temporal and geographical boundaries. The article presents the three-step trans-exilic method —which consists of an identification phase, an examination phase, and an interpretation phase— and tests it through a case study. This case study draws on unpublished private correspondence and diary entries to explore the relationship between Rosa Chacel, a Spanish exiled writer, and Ángel Rosenblat, a Jewish-Polish exiled Hispanist. The trans-exilic method leads to the conclusion that Rosenblat’s support played a crucial role in sustaining Chacel in the early stages of her exile and in the initial steps toward returning to her country of origin, long before the movement to acknowledge exiled writers gained momentum in Spain. In this way, the trans-exilic lens reveals how Rosenblat, seemingly distant due to differences in country of origin and host country, can still be closely connected to Chacel and have an impact on her exile trajectory and professional career. The method provides a means of honoring and recognizing the memory of Rosenblat, a fellow exile who supported Rosa Chacel during key moments in her journey and who deserves a place in the image we construct of Chacel today. Ultimately, the method has demonstrated that trans-exilic interactions challenge traditional notions of networking in Exile Studies by revealing how exiles navigate and redefine the idea of community. Rather than adhering solely to conventional or mainstream frameworks of national affiliation with the country of origin or the host country, exiles forge alternative networks of support. Highlighting such communities offers a counter-narrative to dominant national versions of the story of exile.