Hay Festival Querétaro 2021 – History

Maruan Soto Antaki is a writer, born to a Syrian mother and a Mexican father, who is one of the major Mexican analysts of the political and religious situation in the Arab world. He is the author of five novels and several books of non-fiction, including Pensar Medio Oriente, Pensar México and Pensar Occidente. He presents his first work of non-fiction for young people, Lo que hicimos mal los adultos, illustrated by Bernardo Fernández (Bef), with the intention of explaining some of the main conflicts in the world to today’s teenagers, so they have more tools available to them in order to understand the crises that will still be with them in the future. Based on his great understanding of the issues, he will talk about the way he sees the Middle East, the West and Mexico. In conversation with Julieta Díaz Barrón and Alex Miles.

The historian Andrea Wulf (Germany/United Kingdom), winner of the Eccles Centre & Hay Festival Writer's Award 2013, wrote the award–winning and international bestseller The Invention of Nature (2015), a biography of Alexander von Humboldt (1769-1859). The visionary German naturalist and explorer was daringly adventurous but also created the way we understand nature today. He was the most famous scientist of his age and predicted human-induced climate change. In her book, Wulf follows Humboldt’s footsteps from the highest volcanoes in the Andes to his journey down the Orinoco river. Wulf traces his ideas as they go on to revolutionize and shape science, conservation, nature writing, politics, art and the theory of evolution. In conversation with Onir Roo.

Event in English

The acclaimed historian, winner of the 2013 Eccles Centre & Hay Festival Writer's Award, will talk about her latest work Magnificent Rebels: The First Romantics and the Invention of the Self, which tells the story of a group of thinkers and poets who shaped the way we think about ourselves and the world. This group, who came together in the German town of Jena in the late 18th century, instituted a revolution that can still be felt today. With a book written in lively prose and full of engaging anecdotes, Andrea Wulf (United Kingdom-Germany) offers a panorama of the most important ideas of Romantic philosophy and how these have become a part of the contemporary understanding of the subject. In conversation with Diego Rabasa.

Simultaneous interpretation from English to Spanish available

Luis Jorge Boone and Julián Herbert, both from Coahuila, offer, with El polvo que levantan las botas de los muertos, a unique and intimate view of the Mexican Revolution, combining non-fiction with poetry and storytelling. By recovering the biographies of two people forgotten by history, that of a private in the federal army who is waiting for the enemy to arrive while he remembers his childhood, and that of a rural teacher who is made a member of the Congress founded by the Constitution of 1917. The authors remind of us of the many life stories that were buried by the violence of the war and by the passage of time.

Maruan Soto Antaki is a writer, born to a Syrian mother and a Mexican father, who is one of the major Mexican analysts of the political and religious situation in the Arab world. He is the author of five novels and several books of non-fiction, including Pensar Medio Oriente, Pensar México and Pensar Occidente. He presents his first work of non-fiction for young people, Lo que hicimos mal los adultos, illustrated by Bernardo Fernández, Bef, with the intention of explaining some of the main conflicts in the world to today’s teenagers, so they have more tools available to them in order to understand the crises that will still be with them in the future. Based on his great understanding of the issues, he will talk with Imanol Martínez about the way he sees the Middle East, the West and Mexico.

Maruan Soto Antaki is a writer, born to a Syrian mother and a Mexican father, who is one of the major Mexican analysts of the political and religious situation in the Arab world. He is the author of five novels and several books of non-fiction, including Pensar Medio Oriente, Pensar México and Pensar Occidente. He presents his first work of non-fiction for young people, Lo que hicimos mal los adultos, illustrated by Bernardo Fernández, Bef, with the intention of explaining some of the main conflicts in the world to today’s teenagers, so they have more tools available to them in order to understand the crises that will still be with them in the future. Based on his great understanding of the issues, he will talk about the way he sees the Middle East, the West and Mexico.

The acclaimed Mexican writer Verónica Murguía will talk about her most recent work, El cuarto jinete. Set in 1348, when the world’s most devastating outbreak of plague occurred, decimating the population of Europe in just two years, this novel offers a kaleidoscopic vision of the pandemic, with an awareness that the children and grandchildren of those who suffered would bring about the Renaissance. This is a story which, despite the centuries of distance, chimes with a world that has suffered a pandemic in its own times. In conversation with Antonio Lazcano.

Luis Jorge Boone and Julián Herbert, both from Coahuila, offer, with El polvo que levantan las botas de los muertos, a unique and intimate view of the Mexican Revolution, combining non-fiction with poetry and storytelling. By recovering the biographies of two people forgotten by history, that of a private in the federal army who is waiting for the enemy to arrive while he remembers his childhood, and that of a rural teacher who is made a member of the Congress founded by the Constitution of 1917. Both authors remind of us of the many life stories that were buried by the violence of the war and by the passage of time.

CaminaLee is an initiative that organizes walks aimed at connecting your feet and your brain, letting you listen to stories, characters, history, legends and adventures, all from a different perspective. Connecting with your imagination and your inner wisdom while you walk, feeling what you see. Walking but also reading to visit other worlds, fantastic worlds that you were not aware of, worlds where you can learn about the past, the present and the future. With CaminaLee, we will go out and tour iconic locations in the old quarter, finding the most important sites, monuments and churches, as well as some of the historical legends of the city. An explanation will be given about each of them, including the Teatro de la Ciudad, the Guerrero Gardens, the Palacio Municipal, the Church of Santa Clara, the Fountain of Neptune, the Casa de la Marquesa, the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro route and many other places, sharing the legends of La Carambada, El Marquéz de la Villa del Villar del Águila, La Zacatenaca, among others, with rest stops and discussion of historical figures and the chance to draw them too.

To participate in this activity, please click here to fill in the registration form

Every child must be accompanied by an adult