International authors experience Catalonia's 'book fever' on Sant Jordi

International, Spaniards, and non-Catalan authors got to experience Catalonia's Sant Jordi and the "book fever" that many Catalans experience on April 23, as French writer Pierre Lemaitre described.

He is one of the many foreign writers visiting Barcelona and Catalonia to sign books on Catalonia's Day of Love and UNESCO's World Book Day.

"It is living proof that defends the book as a key element," he said in Barcelona.

Many of them are first-time Sant Jordi adventurers and were surprised to see the atmosphere on the streets with thousands upon thousands filling up the streets and queuing for a signature in Barcelona, but across the territory too.

Francesca Giannone, an Italian writer, signed hundreds of copies of her book 'The Letter Carrier: A Novel', and was exuberant with what her eyes were seeing. She knew it was a spectacular day, but her expectations were easily exceeded.

"It is a moment of absolute joy," she said, before adding that all European capitals should have a day like Sant Jordi, as there is no equal across the world.

Meanwhile, Belén Gopegui from Madrid, celebrated the day as it allows her to meet face-to-face with her readers, as "it is very beautiful to see this many people looking for books in this fast-paced world, as books need to be read carefully."

At the same time, illustrator Pedro Oyarbide, who designed the covers of the 'Blackwater' saga, said that "it always astonishes one to see that many people are buying books." Oyarbide was already in Barcelona last year.

Used to Sant Jordi writers

Among the hundreds of authors signing, many have celebrated Sant Jordi every single year. Still, they consider it a "miracle" and are "buoyant" to have a celebration such this one, as writers Xavier Bosch and Sílvia Soler said on Sant Jordi.

These were some of the hundreds of people meeting their readers on Barcelona's Sant Jordi superblock, which features the Passeig de Gràcia boulevard and many other surrounding streets.