Hay Festival Segovia 2008

The literature of Leonardo Padura is populated by characters who draw the reader in through their raw humanity, yet whose lives are shaped by forces beyond their control. Such is the case of Mario Conde, the detective hero of his crime novels; of Ramón Mercader, the man trained to kill a leader of the Russian Revolution; and now, of the protagonist in his latest work, Dying in the Sand ('Morir en la arena'). Much of Padura’s writing revolves around Cuba’s recent history — a failure without consolation, from which only individuals manage to survive.

He will be joined in conversation by Santiago Herrero, Director of Cultural and Scientific Relations at AECID. A career diplomat and committed cultural advocate.

At the end of the event, the author will sign copies of his books

Event in Spanish

Intramuros magazine, a pioneer in the autobiographical genre in Spanish, celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, continuing to explore the form known as the "minimal autobiography." Its director, Beltrán Gambier, will give a 120-minute workshop that will guide the audience in writing their life story in 1,000 words (minimal autobiography). In the first part (60 minutes), Gambier will provide some theoretical guidelines and read excerpts from minimal autobiographies with the aim of motivating participants—who do not need any academic training—to write (in the following 30 minutes) three or four first paragraphs in the first person, which will be read and discussed (in the last 30 minutes) among the participants.

Event in Spanish

A novel that delves into the ins and outs of family life in 1980’s rural Castilla y León alongside a book of poems that quietly protests against dehumanisation in the age of savage capitalism and artificial intelligence; the works of Rubén Abella (Dice la sangre) and Amalia Iglesias (Yo tampoco soy un robot) have been jointly awarded the latest Castilla y León Critics' Prize. Pure literature comes to the heart of the mining mountains of León with a dialogue on our recent past and our fast-approaching future, with writer and journalist Carlos Aganzo.

Event in Spanish