Le grand retour du Cervantes – Le Jeune Indépendant

The Cervantes Institute and the Spanish Embassy make a notable return to the 28th edition of the Algiers International Book Fair (SILA), after four years of eclipse. With a busy, well-equipped stand, Cervantes and the Spanish Embassy attracted a large audience who immersed themselves in contemporary, resolutely avant-garde Spanish literature.

This year, the public will discover a living culture marked by current Spanish literary creation, nourished by exchanges, meetings and discoveries. As soon as you enter the Spanish pavilion, the eye is drawn to an elegant sobriety, which results in shades of red, ocher and white, adorning the covers and creating a luminous picture. The scent of new paper mixes with conversations and bursts of laughter. Students of the Spanish language, translators, lovers of Iberian letters or simple visitors meet there with the same interest.

Some turn the pages of an Aroa Moreno novel, others linger over a collection of poetry. Here, we are talking about García Lorca, Javier Marías, but also this new generation of authors who tell the story of a plural, vibrant, sometimes tormented Spain.

In the center of the stand, a rich program enlivens the days with meetings with authors, café debates, screenings, conferences and round tables on the translation and circulation of works in Europe. The Cervantes Institute does not just highlight Spanish literature; it builds a real space for cultural and literary dialogue.

“This return was important to us,” underlined a representative of Cervantes. And note: “Spain maintains a strong relationship with Algerian readers. We wanted to renew this link and offer a place for exchange. Literature is a bridge between people, and SILA allows us to cross it every day.”

Exchanges galore

And the public responds. Young people, in particular, flock to listen to a writer, browse a work (translated or in Spanish) and exchange with members of the Institute. Many people also inquire about Spanish courses, reflecting a growing interest in the Iberian language and culture. Families, for their part, are seduced by the warm atmosphere of the place.

“What touches us the most is the quality of the exchanges,” said our interlocutor. “Here, visitors take the time, they ask questions, give their opinions, share their stories. Some talk about their trips to Spain, others the first times they read Cervantes or Pablo Neruda in class. These discussions are charged with sincere emotion. »

On the shelves are lined up works that tell the story of a multiple Spain, urban and rural, anchored in its history but looking to the future. Through these pages, the Algerian public explores, above all, a progressive, avant-garde Spain, driven by poetry, the social novel and a strong feminist voice.