Antonio Gamoneda Announces New Book at Marpoética 2024 Closing Ceremony
Antonio Gamoneda, the Cervantes Prize-winning writer from León, announced the publication of his upcoming book, ‘Cancionero de la Indiferencia’, on Thursday night in Marbella during the closing ceremony of Marpoética. The 92-year-old writer was joined on stage at the Marbella City Theatre by writer and journalist Antonio Lucas.
Return to Marpoética After a Decade
Gamoneda, the author of crucial Spanish poetry books such as ‘Blues Castellano’ and ‘Descripción de la Mentira’, revealed this publishing news at the closing of Marpoética, nearly a decade after being one of the key figures in its founding in 2015. During his talk, Gamoneda reflected on his life as a child of war, his literature, and the Generation of ’50, to which he is linked but whose real existence he expressed doubts about.
Reading from ‘Cancionero de la Indiferencia’
The poet concluded his speech by reading several poems from his ‘Cancionero de la Indiferencia’, written in free verse and revisiting his own memories to once again construct a poetic world filled with echoes and meanings.
Marpoética’s Closing Ceremony
The closing ceremony of Marpoética began with a brief speech by its director, writer Javier Vicedo, who noted that Gamoneda is one of the most influential authors of the last 60 years of Spanish poetry. Antonio Lucas, who returned to a festival he directed for its first five editions, stated that Gamoneda is one of the creators that “must be read if one wants to understand Spanish poetry of the last 60 years”.
Gamoneda’s Humor and Hardships
Throughout the event, Gamoneda demonstrated his sense of humor and also spoke about the harsh circumstances of his life, which inspire his poems. The León writer described himself as “a child of a war who grows up in a post-war period that has determined him, because the child of the war remains the child of the war in a certain way”.
Reflections on Poetry
On the subject of poetry as a genre, he stated that everything in the universe can be a generating principle of the poem, but “one cannot only think about the materials but also about the circumstance in which they function”. He therefore advocated for solitude as a “necessary companion” of the poet.
Marpoética’s Final Events
After the meeting with the Cervantes Prize winner, the Marbella City Theatre enjoyed a concert by the Cordovan quintet Nervio, specializing in the adaptation of poems by classic authors. The meeting with Gamoneda and the concert marked the end of a cycle that began on Thursday, April 11, with an event featuring Miguel Poveda and playwright and poet Alberto Conejero. The festival hosted guests such as musician Santiago Auserón and writers Joaquín Pérez Azaústre and Ole Oseguera, and also offered a wide range of educational activities.
