Professor writes book
By Monique Bhimani
Staff Reporter

Growing up in Buenos Aires, Spanish instructor David Bedford came to love the Argentine culture, so much so that the short stories in his first book are based in various cities in the country.

Written in Spanish, Bedford’s first fiction collection, “Liliana y el espejo,” was released in March 2002. Bedford has also written many academic works concerning literature or foreign languages. He said the book has sold 70 copies via an Internet publishing company.

Bedford said many of the stories in his book contain a fantastic element to them, or a more supernatural worldview, compared to the scientific view of the 20th century. Some of these elements are visible, as with Liliana, a character in the book, and some are hidden, but it is ultimately up to the reader to interpret, Bedford said.

“In the lead story of the collection, her (Liliana’s) reflection talks to her and becomes a role model for her in the future,” Bedford said.

Some students that have taken Bedford’s classes are very familiar with his Argentinean background.

“He has an interesting life and likes to talk about it,” said Brett Grayson, a sophomore political science major. “He is very cultured and knowledgeable about a plethora of subjects. Bedford is a ‘student’s teacher’; he’s the kind of teacher students can relate to.”

Grayson said he has read some of Bedford’s writings and considers them an excellent read. He said the writings are a combination of science fiction and philosophy, topics he considers hard to combine.

Bedford brings up this type of philosophical question when talking about his works and those of writers he admires.

“The world is like a stage, and we’re spectators of a written fiction,” Bedford said. “What makes us think we’re not products of a written script?”

Bedford said his influences include works of Jorge Luis Borges, an Argentine short story writer and poet; Alejandro Dolina, a popular radio host and fiction writer in Argentina; and Edgar Allan Poe.

Born in Fort Worth, Bedford spent his childhood in Argentina and graduated from high school in Buenos Aires.

He said his parents were missionaries in the country. Bedford said he lived in three different cities in Argentina before going to college at Texas Tech University.

“I just write what comes to me,” Bedford said. “It comes from a gut reaction of what’s deep in one’s psyche. Mine is from an Argentine upbringing rather than an American one, which makes for a different perspective.”

Bedford had a book signing for “Liliana y el espejo” Tuesday in the TCU Bookstore.

The book signing was an excellent opportunity for students to see the variety of talent among faculty members, said Bonnie Frederick, chair of Spanish and Latin American studies.

“It’s good for the students of TCU to understand that the academia has many facets outside the classroom,” Frederick said.