Overview
- Barcelona arrives as guest city at the Guadalajara International Book Fair next week with a high-profile roster curated by Anna Guitart.
- The invited list features authors such as Eduardo Mendoza, Javier Cercas, Màrius Serra and Gemma Ruiz Palà, reflecting the city’s dual-language landscape.
- Critics say bilingual representation is visible in the program but not explored with sufficient intellectual depth.
- Libraries and bookstores are seen as underplayed, with a planned panel of five city librarians not located on the fair’s website and three chosen shops—Casa Anita, Finestres and Altaïr—presented without a clear narrative.
- Commentary highlights that selection debates have revived focus on Barcelona’s literary role, including its community of Latin American writers, even as questions persist about the city’s core message.