Renowned writer Irene Vallejo is set to make her debut in Morocco, thanks to the collaboration with the Tres Culturas Foundation. The Zaragoza-born author, who has gained international acclaim with her book "El infinito en un junco," will participate in two literary events in Rabat on May 8 and 9, coinciding with the recognition of the Moroccan capital as the UNESCO World Capital of Book 2026. This visit marks a significant milestone in Vallejo's journey as a celebrated author, especially following the recent translation of her works into Arabic.
A recipient of the National Essay Award and the prestigious Gold Medal for Merit in Fine Arts, Vallejo's first official presentation in Morocco will occur at the Mohammed VI Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art on May 8 at 11:30 AM, in collaboration with the National Foundation of Museums. During this event, she will address approximately 180 students from the Spanish School of Rabat, discussing vital topics such as the importance of promoting reading habits among youth, the role of books as a refuge against bullying, and the value of libraries and cultural spaces in nurturing new readers.
The second meeting will take place on May 9 at 12:30 PM as part of the 31st edition of the International Salon of Publishing and Book (SIEL), within the Spain-Ibero-America space, with the participation of the Cervantes Institute of Rabat. In this session, Vallejo will engage in a conversation with translator Mark Gamal, who is responsible for the Arabic versions of several of her works. They will delve into the challenges of translating Vallejo's literary universe into Arabic, which is deeply influenced by Greco-Roman traditions. Some of her works already published in Arabic include "El infinito en un junco," edited by the Lebanese publisher Aladab; "Manifiesto por la lectura," published by Kuwaiti Takween; and "El futuro recordado," a collection of essays released by the Egyptian publisher Tanmia.
Both events will be moderated by Moroccan journalist Zoubaida Fathi, affiliated with the National Society of Broadcasting and Television (SNRT). Born in Zaragoza in 1979, Irene Vallejo holds a PhD in Classical Philology from the universities of Zaragoza and Florence and has been actively promoting the classical world through lectures, courses, and journalistic collaborations with media outlets such as Heraldo de Aragón and El País Semanal.
Although she began her literary career with novels like "La luz sepultada" and "El silbido del arquero," it was "El infinito en un junco" that catapulted her to prominence as one of the most influential voices in contemporary literature. This essay, which explores the history of books and libraries from antiquity to the present day, has already reached over a million readers, has been translated into more than 40 languages, and is published in over 70 countries.
As reported by revistamercurio.es.
