Catalan authors bring their unique literary universes to London Book Fair

The London Book Fair 2022 got underway on Tuesday with a special focus on Catalan authors. 

Raül Garrigasait, Marta Orriols and Josep Maria Esquirol all took part in the first talks with British publishers and writers at the event that is one of the biggest in the global literary world. 

Catalan culture will be showcased throughout the fair where it will feature prominently with a special program of activities and networking events, such as discussions with authors. It is the second literary culture that has ever enjoyed this special focus after India in 2017.

The Ramon Llull Institute (IRL), a public body in charge of promoting Catalan culture and language abroad, has been working on the event for five years along with the Catalan Institute of Cultural Businesses (ICEC).

Raül Garrigasait, author of 'Els estranys' ('Strangers'), opened the Catalan participation in the Olympia Theater, the venue where the fair is held, with a conversation with the publisher Christopher MacLehose in which they addressed the importance of the classics. 

They spoke about the essential role that translation plays in bringing cultures together, as well as the translation of modern Catalan works into English, contributing to the shared literary tradition. The event was moderated by editor and journalist Rosie Goldsmith.

Award-winning author Marta Orriols, who arrives in London after her book 'Learning to Talk to Plants' has already had a successful English translation and is sold in some 15 countries, took part in a discussion with writer Max Porter. 

Their discussion centered around the grief that is experienced after a loss, love, and life. Porter’s book 'Grief is the Thing with Feathers' can be read in more than 20 different languages.

Speaking to the Catalan News Agency, the author of 'Learning to Talk to Plants' believes that her novel resonates with the public for its 'universal' feelings. "Every loss is unique but the experience is shared by many. Feelings can be understood beyond any national context," she explained. 

She believes that Catalan literature is in a healthy state and comparable to any other standard. "There is a diversity of authors, styles, and a lot of quality to find different readers," she said.

Professor, philosopher, and essayist Josep Maria Esquirol, author of ‘The Intimate Resistance’, which has been translated into English by Fum d'Estampa, rounded off Tuesday’s itinerary of the 'Books in Catalan' focus with a conversation with writer Jay Griffiths.

During the event, they talked about the time and the meaning of experience today. For Esquirol, English literature is dominated by "analytical thinking, the seemingly scientific and more systematic nature," a feature that differs from the Catalan literary proposal, in his opinion.

"My books have a more existential, vital, even passionate character, and works of this style do not prevail in Catalan literature," the professor and essayist explained.