Ferniot presents his book the day after tomorrow, at 6 p.m., at the Moreno Library.
-What can you tell us about the book you will be presenting at the fair?
-This is the third full-length book that I am going to present, with the characteristic that I have completely changed the genre. I venture into something that I thought I would never be able to involve myself in, which is the historical novel, because I have always thought that it requires a very precise and concrete fidelity and foundation. After an interesting investigation in Mendoza in the Historical Archives of Mendoza and in the archive of the Army and the Armed Forces of Buenos Aires; A fairly extensive investigation, I have been able to make this novel that I believe is truly clinging to precise and concrete data. I just take the most important things that are happening. I make calls and at the bottom I cite the sources from which I have obtained these data, which makes it possible to verify the veracity of the data.
-Who is the central character?
-It is about the life of an important character, called Captain José Francisco de Amigorena, who lived for more than 30 years in Mendoza, where he was the head of the armed forces of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata and the person in charge of contacts the Spanish colonizers with the rebellious forces of the native peoples. He had to face the attack they made on the colonizers, but this man did it very successfully and achieved long-standing peace agreements, which has been very important for the development of the Mendoza and Cuyo area. He was the head of the border forces of all of Cuyo, Mendoza, San Juan and San Luis. The novel has other aspects that I also think may be of interest, during those 30 years of the life of the commander or captain De Amigorena.
The historical facts
-The novel explores those three decades in De Amigorena’s life. Does it also address historical milestones?
-Very important things happened in the Viceroyalty, during which he was in permanent contact and became friends with almost all the viceroys. But important world events also occurred, such as the expulsion of the Jesuits, which was an important shock for the entire Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata. Then the Tupac Amaru rebellion occurred in Peru, which created a quake because it was believed that this rebellion would reach these lands and there was a danger of losing the colonies. The French Revolution also occurred at that same time, with the tremendous blow it dealt to the absolutist monarchy of France and which also made the power of Spain look with great suspicion. Also, in that same period, the mystical development of Mama Antula occurred, with whom she had two meetings in the city of Córdoba.
A wide range of activities at the literature festival
The twentieth edition of the Juan Filloy Book Fair, which takes place from tomorrow until Sunday, October 13 at the Old Market Cultural Center with the motto “Books in Alto”, is a great proposal for culture and recreation.
On this occasion, there will be notable visits from Juan Sasturain, Soledad Ferrari, Verónica Abdala, Viviana E. Rivero, Luciano Wernicke, Hugo Alconada Mon, Sergio Olguín, Gonzalo Garcés and Delfina Rossi, among others.
This year’s edition will have 80 exhibitors and more than 70 activities that will take place during the seven days of the fair. You can enjoy book presentations, talks, cultural activities, visual arts samples, literary café, workshops, music, theater, circus and gastronomic patio.
Opening and hours
The official ceremony with the presence of authorities will take place tomorrow at 6 p.m. in the Deliberative Council. The opening speech will be given by local writer Beatriz “Bachi” Salas representing the Argentine Society of Writers and Oral Narrators of Río Cuarto.
The event will also feature the words of the rector of the National University of Río Cuarto, professor Marisa Rovera, and the municipal mayor Guillermo De Rivas.
After the inauguration, at 8 p.m. in the auditorium of the Deliberative Council, the prominent Argentine writer Juan Sasturain will present with “Open dialogue on the detective novel and the detective Julio Etchenique”, accompanied by the journalist from Rio Cuarto Juan Carlos Giuliani.
The exhibition can be visited on Monday from 4 to 10 p.m. and from Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 4 to 10 p.m.
The complete schedule of activities, at www.riocuarto.gov.ar.
