After two years of pandemic and one of hail (Sant Jordi ‘on the rocks’), the book sector was already experiencing a joy like that of this plethoric Diada. And joys must always be celebrated. Ideally, in the company of other human beings and in a pleasant and well-stocked place. The ‘April’ First Anniversary Partythe literary supplement of Prensa Ibérica (publishing company of EL PERIÓDICO), was postulated as the preferred option to finish off the day of glory in a place as suggestive as the Dry Martini Speakeasythat supposedly clandestine space that can only be accessed using a secret password.
The Speakeasy password is intended to evoke excitement, danger and sense of exclusivity from the days of Prohibition in the Chicago gambling dens of the 1920s, but I would say that for the ‘boomers’ who make up the vast majority generational group at the ‘April’ party (including the author of these notes ) the closest referent are those crazy slogans that Mortadelo and Filemon they had to let loose every time they wanted to sneak into the TIA headquarters (“those guys with mustaches have the face of a Hottentot& rdquor; and so on).
Tribute to Terence
On this occasion, the safe-conduct phrase that opens the doors of this bookish soiree generously sponsored by Grupo Planeta and Freixenet is “Terenci liked April & rdquor;, a tribute to the Barcelona writer born Ramon Moix who had the bad idea of dying precisely one day in April 20 years ago. “We wanted to find a way to link the party with the memory of Terenci & rdquor ;, he explains Alex Salmondirector of ‘abril’, who, in his role as an attentive host, has posted himself at the entrance while connecting with the writer and journalist Juan Cruzattached to the presidency of Prensa Ibérica (“I am here watching”, he jokes).
Soon the glasses of Elyssia cava that welcome the attendees coexist on the bars and on the trays with the colorful cocktails that have made Javier de las Muelas’ establishment famous and things begin to pick up. One of the early risers is the Minister of the Presidency Felix Bolanos, who says he arrives with “enormous satisfaction & rdquor; of having lived “a magnificent day in which citizens have enjoyed life and culture and reading & rdquor ;. A group of businessmen and politicians soon formed around him, including, among others, the CEO of Prensa Ibérica, Aitor Moll; the director of EL PERIÓDICO, Albert Saez; the director of Bankinter in Catalonia, Edward Gallart; Focus CEO Isabella Vidal; the head of the socialist opposition in Parliament, Salvador Illa; the Minister of the Interior, Joan Ignasi Elena; the deputy mayor Laia Bonetthe ‘ex-minister’ of Economy Jaume Giro and, how could it be otherwise, a colorful mayor’s poker.
Ernest Maragall (CKD), Jaume Collboni (PSC), Daniel Sirera (PP), Anna Grau (Citizens) and Eva Parera (Valents) are the candidates for mayor of Barcelona who have seen fit to finish off a demanding day of fishing for votes at the ‘April’ party. Only the candidate for re-election Ada Colau and Xavier Trias (Junts) have declined the invitation, they will know why.
the waltz of life
While the representatives of what used to be called the living forces civilly exchange points of view on the uncertain future of the city, in an adjoining room, writers, editors, journalists and filmmakers they begin to dance the waltz of life, as they say. He supports the commonplace that the members of the literary tribe are introverted, reserved creatures with little gift for social activity, but the picture that is being formed in the Dry Martini is determined to deny it. After all, here is a (very good) Sant Jordi to celebrate.
The occasion allows, for example, to bring together the last two Nadal winners: Ines Martin Rodrigowinner in 2022 with `Las formas del querer’, and Manuel Vilas, who, with ‘We’ (Nadal Award 2023), has been able, he says, to remove “the thorn& rdquor; of 2020, when the pandemic prevented him from signing copies of ‘Alegría’, a finalist novel for the Planet.
Happiness
Joy without thorns (beyond those of the roses supplied by Flores Navarro) is precisely what flows through the ‘April’ party, to which writers continue to arrive –Elvira Navarro, Luisa Castro, Dolores Redondo, Edurne Portela, Ildefonso Falcones, Olga Merino, Xita Rubert de Ventós, Emma Riverola, Ray Loriga, Juan Vico, Pilar Rahola, Elisabeth Duval, Andrea Tomasini, Sabino Méndez, Juan Soto Ivars, Pilar Eyre , Mercedes Abad, Daniel Vázquez Sallés, Ricard Ruiz, Sergio Puertas…-, editors –Nuria Cabuti (Penguin Random House) Juan Cerezo (Tusquets), Joan Tarrida (Gutenberg Galaxy), Anna Soldevila (Destination), Emili Rosales and Pilar Beltran (Group 62), Carlos Revés (Planet), Martha Butcher (Cliff)…-, actors and filmmakers –Albert Solé, Laura Maña, Mireia Ros, Itziar Castro-, literary agents, journalists and various dipsomaniacs.
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The glamor of the party definitely goes up a notch with the appearance of Albert Serrawith sunglasses and that eternal look of wearing monogrammed pajamas, and, almost at the last minute, of Gemma Ruiz, who has turned out to be the big winner of the day with her novel ‘Les nostres mares’ and who confesses to being a bit “overwhelmed& rdquor; for all that she has experienced in this record-breaking Sant Jordi.
“April is the cruelest month,” wrote TS Eliot. On days like this, it’s hard to agree with him.