International authors signing books in Barcelona this Sant Jordi

Santi Jordi is a special day for books, roses, and romance. There are few better days in the calendar to roam the streets of your town or city and enjoy the festive atmosphere. 

One of the most popular activities that locals enjoy on this special day of April 23 each year is meeting with their favourite authors, who are typically stationed at a stall set up on the street or in a bookshop. 

This year, Barcelona plans to create a ‘literary superblock’ taking over a large part of the city center, with an expected record-high number of book sellers taking to the streets.

The majority of authors who will be meeting with readers and fans on Saturday tend to be Catalan or Spanish, but there are plenty of international novelists and writers who will also take a seat to meet the public on Sant Jordi. 

From the minds that put grumpy Greek investigators, some of the best Vietnamese yoga instruction you can find in Catalonia, and an account of women’s resilience in Stalin’s labor camps, here are some of the acclaimed international authors you can meet in Barcelona this Sant Jordi.

Jo Nesbø

Perhaps the best Norwegian writer of his generation, Jo Nesbø presented his latest book in the Catalan capital on Friday ahead of Sant Jordi. His latest book of short stories, titled ‘The Jealousy Man’, deals broadly with themes of power and jealousy, but remains true to Nesbø’s unique style. 

He’ll be meeting with readers on Sant Jordi between: 5-6 pm at Casa del Llibre on Passeig de Gràcia, 6-7 pm at Abacus on Passeig de Gràcia, 7-8 pm at FNAC Triangle on Plaça Catalunya.

Xuan Lan 

Lan is a Vietnamese yoga instructor based in Barcelona with a studio in the Born district, just a two-minute walk from the Arc de Troimf. She’s published two books on the physical art form that she has dedicated her life to: ‘Yoga for My Wellbeing’ and ‘My Yoga Diaries’. 

On April 23 she will be meeting fans and readers at: 11 am-12 pm La Caixa d’Eines on Passeig de Gràcia, 1-2 pm Campus on Passeig de Gràcia, 4-5 pm Casa del Llibre on Passeig Sant Joan, 5-6 pm On The Road on Passeig de Gràcia, 6-7 pm Natura on Consell de Cent, 7-8 pm in FNAC Triangle in Plaça Catalunya. 

Monika Zgustová

Zgustová has probably translated Czech literature into Spanish and Catalan more than any other writer, while she has also worked on many historic Russian texts, meaning locals here can thank her for a comprehensive introduction to the likes of  Bohumil Hrabal, Jaroslav Hašek, Václav Havel, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, and many others.

Her acclaimed original 2020 work, Dressed for a Dance in the Snow, tells the story of the strength of women that had to face forced labor camps in Stalin’s Soviet Union, while she has also written non-fiction about Prague and Gala Dalí. 

On Friday April 22, she will be at Tòmiris bookshop, in the area of Sagrada Família, at 6 pm. 

On Saturday, she has a busy schedule: 11 am-12 pm Nebli on Passeig de Gràcia, 12-1 pm La Central on Passeig de Gràcia, 4-5 pm La Impossible on Passeig de Gràcia, 5-6 pm Ona on Passeig de Gràcia, and 7-8 pm in FNAC Triangle in Plaça Catalunya. 

Theodor Kallifatides 

Kallifatides is a Greek immigrant to Sweden who writes in Swedish, but his books have been translated into many languages, including English, Spanish, and Catalan. 

He’ll be meeting with readers On Friday April 22 at the Tòmiris bookshop in the area of Sagrada Família from 6 pm. On Saturday, he will be at: Alibri on Passeig de Gràcia from 11 am-12 pm, La Central on Passeig de Gràcia from 12-1 pm, Laie on Passeig de Gràcia from 1-2 pm, Ona on Passeig de Gràcia from 5-6 pm, FNAC Triangle in Plaça Catalunya between 6-7 pm, Documenta on Passeig de Gràcia from 7-8 pm, and Casa del Llibre on Passeig de Gràcia from 8-9 pm. 

Petros Márkaris

Fans of Greek literature will surely be familiar with the character of Costas Haritos. Márkaris, the Greek-Armenian writer, is well known for his detective novels starring the grumpy police officer Haritos in Athens. Márkaris will be in Casa del Llibre on Passeig de Gràcia from 1-2 pm, in Laie on Passeig de Gràcia from 5-6 pm, and in FNAC on Passeig de Gràcia from 7-8 pm.

Ennatu Domingo

Domingo is a young Catalan/Ethiopian writer who offers a fresh perspective to Catalan literature. Her first book, ‘Burned Eucalyptus Wood’, was presented this week, and on Saturday she will meet fans and sign books at the following spots: 10-11 am at Casa del Llibre on Passeig de Gràcia, 11 am-12 pm at Garbí on Passeig de Gràcia, 12-1 pm at Ona on Passeig de Gràcia, 4-5 pm at La Central on on Passeig de Gràcia, 5-6 pm at Abacus in Plaça Universitat, 6-7 pm at Jaimes on Passeig de Gràcia, 7-8 pm at FNAC Triangle on Plaça Catalunya, and from 8-9 pm at Altaïr on Passeig de Gràcia.

Claudio Stassi

Born in Palermo but now living and working in Barcelona, Claudio Stassi has featured in collaborations in many comics in recent years, and has published his own graphic novels such as ‘Stern Gang’, ‘Pour la vie’, and ‘This is Why My Name is Giovanni’. He’ll be meeting with fans at FNAC Triangle in Plaça Catalunya between 6-7 pm.