Best-selling Sant Jordi writer Xavier Bosch expresses 'infinite gratitude' to readers

Writer Xavier Bosch expressed "infinite" gratitude to readers after learning his latest book Diagonal Manhattan was one of the best-selling Catalan fiction titles this Sant Jordi.

"People have trusted me once again," he told the Catalan News Agency (ACN).

Rather than sales figures, Bosch said that the real reward was listening to people throughout the day talking to him about his previous books and telling him how excited they were to read Diagonal Manhattan, published by Columna.

"Infinite gratitude to readers for buying so many of the stories I’ve written alone at home over the past two years," he said.

Diagonal Manhattan tells the story of a 21-year-old woman in 1980s Barcelona who wants to make her way in New York.

Sant Jordi 2025 saw a record two million books sold, with total sales of over €26 million.

Artificial intelligence

One of the top-selling non-fiction writers, economist Xavier Sala i Martín, told ACN he didn't care about being on the best-seller list – what he truly enjoyed was "interacting with hundreds of readers" throughout Sant Jordi's Day.

Sala i Martín began writing 'Entre el paradís i l’apocalipsi' (Between Paradise and the Apocalypse) seven years ago.

He said he feels lucky that it has been published (by Rosa dels Vents) at a time when there's widespread interest in the subject matter – artificial intelligence.

"Not a competition"

Another best-selling writer, Sílvia Soler, said Sant Jordi was "not a competition."  

"At the end of the day, with so many people who’ve been working hard, for things to go well is a joy," she told ACN after her latest novel 'Cor fort' (Strong Heart, published by Univers) was named one of the top-selling Catalan fiction titles.

"I've spent the whole day talking to readers who have followed me for many years, and so I'm very happy."

Soler's book follows the lives of generations of women within the same family. It begins in the 1950s with Teresa, a young woman who unexpectedly becomes pregnant and decides to raise the child on her own.

The writer believes the book's theme is one reason it has been so well received, noting that she signed many copies for mothers.

"People have often heard this expression ['cor fort'] at home and have associated it with mothers and grandmothers," she said. "Catalan mothers are going to get some great gifts today."

Best-sellers list

The Booksellers' Guild of Catalonia released the list of the best-selling authors on Sant Jordi based on figures collected up to 6pm, including data from the days leading up to the event.

The data was gathered by LibriRed, an automated system that compiles sales figures from bookstores across Catalonia, including both independent shops and large chains.