In a book on the history of the book, where books are cited that in turn speak of other books … This is the “setting in the abyss” written by Irene Vallejo in ‘El infinito en un junco’ (2019), a scholarly essay which, despite its historical rigor, reads like an exciting adventure novel, in which readers walk all the way through that wonderful object called a book.
From its origins in the Sumerian clay tablets, through the reed papyri in Egypt that gave rise to the library of Alexandria, as well as the precious medieval codices written by hand by monks, the first Venetian booksellers, reaching the printed book and digital, in which the reader is possibly reading, right now, that story about books.
Irene Vallejo is a Spanish philologist who for years devoted herself patiently, and pleasantly, to tracing in ancient sources, from the oldest libraries in the world (Oxford and Florence), the still untold stories of book culture. His book ‘El infinito en un junco’, received in 2020 the National Essay Award in Spain, and currently, with more than 50,000 copies sold, it is among the most successful books in Latin America.
You can read: Joël Dicker talks about his fifth novel at Hay Festival
Why did you decide to write a book about books, when there are already so many on the subject?
That’s right, in fact ‘A Reading Story’ by Alberto Manguel was like my compass and my inspiration, I am well aware that there are even bookstores that dedicate entire shelves to books about books.
Starting from that humility, to recognize that it is not an original topic, I felt it necessary to write it when many voices proclaimed the end of the paper book, with the arrival of the electronic book.
But from my perspective as a historian, contemplating the course of the books and all the way that this amazing object has traveled, I had a differing vision of the matter, that is why I wanted to write a book that was a tribute but, at the same time, a testimony of hope.
Although I also want to redefine the relationship between the paper book and the electronic book, I believe that it is a coexistence and not a competition.
My book is a recognition of all that magnificent feat of survival of the paper book, of all the advantages that it continues to offer in the 21st century, that is why I like the reflection of Umberto Eco when he says that the book is one of those almost perfect objects Like the wheel, spoon, chair, scissors or hammer, almost impossible to improve.
The Spanish writer Irene Vallejo will speak today, at 9:00 am at the Hay Festival, about her book ‘El infinio en un junco’.
Special for El País
–
In her book, she highlights the role that women readers and writers played in ancient times …
As a philologist, I have always consulted ancient sources looking for women, and although they are never the main topic, collecting scattered data I was able to build an overall image of these women and their role in this history of books, reading and writing.
I had always heard mention that the contribution of women had been almost nil in ancient times, but I was surprised to find traces, even if they were only bits of the presence of many more women than I ever suspected. I think that the intellectual work of women as thinkers and as transmitters of knowledge has always been cornered and hidden, and has not been valued to the extent it deserved, ‘Infinity in a reed’ is also a song to all of them.
Another important aspect of your book is orality, is it relevant today?
It continues to occupy an essential place, although I have wanted to honor the book as a vehicle for the knowledge of ideas and stories, I have also wanted to highlight the power of orality, because the book did not destroy this capacity, it has continued to exist.
Orality has continued in our world through the stories we tell ourselves, on the radio, podcasts, and audiobooks, because technology is its ally, for example to speak to us in the distance through platforms, as is currently the case. But orality acquires its original form when we tell stories to a child, that is the same magic that congregated our ancestors, the hunter-gatherers, around the bonfires at nightfall.
“Violence and different forms of oppression are also present in the history of the book, something of which we must be aware and critical.”
Hay Festival
Some virtual talks not to miss today.
Friday, January 29:
– 9:00 am Irene Vallejo, author of ‘El infinito en un junco’, will talk with Héctor Abad Faciolince.
– 12:00 pm The scientific journalist David Quammen, author of ‘Contagio’, will speak with Pablo Correa.
– 1:30 pm The paleoanthropologist Juan Luis Arsuaga and the writer Juan José Millás, authors of ‘The life told by a sapiens to a Neanderthal’, will talk with Yolanda Ruiz.
– .
