Why is it so important to go to the Guadalajara Book Fair?

BarcelonaThe international expansion of Catalan culture began at the Guadalajara International Book Fair (FIL) in 2004, when it was the guest of honor. Two decades later, it returns in much better shape: while two decades ago around one hundred titles were translated from Catalan into other languages annually, that number has steadily increased since then, and last year's figure was spectacular (348).

In almost four decades of history, the FIL has managed to become the second most important event in the publishing industry worldwide, second only to the Frankfurt Book Fair. In the previous edition, the Mexican fair welcomed more than 900,000 visitors, featured 2,000 publishers and 750 authors from 49 countries, and showcased 630 books. It is a major platform for Catalan literature, which will be present at this 39th edition of the fair as part of the delegation of almost seventy authors will represent Barcelona as the guest city of honor"We wanted to offer a representative sample of the literature being created here and now: this includes people who write in Catalan and Spanish, but also Latin American authors based in the city, such as the Mexican Juan Pablo Villalobos or the Chilean Paulina Flores," says Anna Guitart, curator of the Barcelona program, whose motto is The flowers will come. Also present will be a leading figure in international literature, the Irish writer Colm Tóibín, whose strong connection to Barcelona we would like to highlight. There are some relatively new names on the list, who may still be in the process of being discovered. This is one of the aspects we are eager to showcase.

Alongside established authors such as Xavier Bosch, Núria Cadenas, Javier Cercas, Eduardo Mendoza, Marta Orriols, and Silvia Soler, new voices like Maria Canelles, Eduardo Mas de Pueblo, and David Moragas will also participate. Most of the selected authors write in Catalan, while the remaining 20% write in Spanish. What were the selection criteria? There was also a desire to avoid including authors who were already at the fair in 2024 when Spain was the guest country. Finally, it was decided to prioritize emerging authors as well.

Thought, music and performing arts

Barcelona's budget for the book fair amounts to 3.5 million euros, and it's not limited solely to adult literature; children's and young adult literature is well represented by authors such as Rocío Bonilla, Jaume Copons, Xavier Salomó, and Anna Manso. With the aim of "telling the story of Barcelona's and the Mediterranean's identity," as Jaume Collboni, the mayor of Barcelona, ​​reminded attendees at the presentation, the fair will also feature thematic areas such as gastronomy, science, design, thought, and concerts by Roger Mas, Rigoberta Bandini, Love of Lesbian, and Queralt. Another highlight will be Joan Manuel Serrat's meeting with a thousand students: the singer-songwriter will also receive an honorary doctorate from the University of Guadalajara during the fair. Catalan performing arts will also be present in Guadalajara, with performances by... Sonoma, from La Veronal; I, a transvestiteby Josep Maria Miró, and a dramatized reading of The Diamond SquareThe program will feature the works of Mercè Rodoreda, and the visual arts program will include Cabosanroque's trilogy with three independent installations dedicated to Joan Brossa, Jacint Verdaguer, and Mercè Rodoreda. The scientific section will include Pere Estupinyà, Salvador Macip, Gemma Marfany, Toni Pou, and Eva Vidal. The thought section, a program coordinated in collaboration with the Centre for Contemporary Culture of Barcelona, ​​will feature some fifteen philosophers and essayists, including Fina Birulés, Daniel Gamper, Marina Garcés, Ingrid Guardiola, and Marta Segarra. There will also be two exhibitions, The books of Barcelonacurated by Enric Jardí, focusing on the history and evolution of editorial design in the city, and The women will sell, which addresses the relationship of Barcelona's female writers with public space over the last 150 years and which has been curated by Mita Casacuberta, Ingrid Guardiola and Anna Maria Iglesia.