Pagès Editors has declared the literary quality of the Lleida region to be at its "most buoyant moment in history," according to editorial director Eulàlia Pagès. The statement was made during the publisher's traditional Sant Jordi breakfast in Lleida, which marks the start of the annual book and rose festival.
The event, held at the publisher's headquarters on Sant Salvador street, gathered dozens of writers and authors from across the Lleida region, including Marta Alòs, Juanjo Lecumberri, and Martí Bach, all presenting new works this year. Author Montse Sanjuan delivered the customary glossa, a celebratory address for Sant Jordi, emphasising the "magic" of reading and the imagination of authors.
Sanjuan, known for her successful Sergeant Anna Grimm saga, explained her focus: "I wanted to refer to the magic that sometimes makes us drop everything to pick up a book and not be able to wait to find out how a story continues." She also reflected on her childhood visits to bookstores with her father, suggesting that "for today's children, there are many things, but I think bookstores can still be a meeting place between parents and children."
Showcasing New Literary Voices
The literary breakfast highlighted several new editorial releases. Marta Alòs presented 'La casa dels nou hiverns' (The House of Nine Winters), a work where she "breaks" from crime novels to return to 'self-literature', a narrative journey between memory and time. According to Alòs, "everyone will feel recognised and addressed" by the book.
Juanjo Lecumberri made his literary debut with 'Banderes blaves' (Blue Flags), an exploration of memories and popular culture, set against the backdrop of the Lleida football team. Lecumberri expressed his "excitement" to experience Sant Jordi "from the other side" and to reconnect with acquaintances who share his passion for football and literature.
Also debuting was 17-year-old Martí Bach with 'La parada de la meva vida' (The Stop of My Life), which recounts his experience with cancer. Bach believes his book "can help many adolescents see that you can get through it" and shared his enthusiasm for participating in the Sant Jordi celebrations as one of the featured authors.
Diverse Catalogue for All Readers
Other notable works presented included 'La casa dels àngels' (The House of Angels) by Mag Lari, which reinterprets the past of a stone house in Castellserà, Urgell, that he transformed into his home. Additionally, Xavier Estrada's 'El partit que no veus' (The Game You Don't See) draws on his 14 years of experience as a First Division football referee.
Eulàlia Pagès described the editorial's catalogue as "very plural," designed to cater to "all readers' tastes." The annual Sant Jordi breakfast serves as a significant cultural event in Lleida, underscoring the region's commitment to literary production and fostering a reading community ahead of Catalonia's most celebrated book festival.
