CATALONIA -- Spanish Embassy censors catalan book presentation in Utrecht - VilaWeb
Spanish Embassy censors catalan book presentation in Utrecht
Dutch press calls 'censorship' performance of the Spanish government ·
'Victus' is a Catalan historical bestseller by novelist Albert Sánchez
Piñol
The presentation of the Dutch
version of the novel Victus, a Catalan historical bestseller by
novelist Albert Sánchez Piñol at the Instituto Cervantes in Utrecht has
been suspended at the last minute as a result of Spanish Embassy
pressures. Sánchez Piñol presented the book in Amsterdam on Wednesday,
just a week after of the release of the Dutch translation. At the end of
the event, during the question time, a woman who said she represented
the Spanish embassy strated speaking, attacking the book.
According to Miquel Calçada, commissioner's of the Tricentenari
(commemorations for the events of 1714), she was the same woman who
spoke in April at a conference in Utrecht, by Clara Ponsatí. She read a
statement --long, well prepeared-- which claimed that the historical
data of the novel 'Victus' were distorted and attacked the Catalan
self-determination process. The presenter of the event cut off the
intervention, because it was too much extensive. The author expressed
his surprise at this performance, and the audience warmly applauded the
Sánchez Piñol's response .
Then, the book presentation scheduled in Utrecht on Thursday, was suspended.
Victus is a historical bestseller novel that narrates the War of the
Spanish Succession, a conflict that could be considered one of the first
world struggles. Although in 1713 the Treaty of Utrecht concluded a
ceasefire among both sides, the Catalans kept fighting to protect their
rights and freedoms. That fight ended on 11 September 1714 with the
apocalyptic assault on Barcelona. The novel was written originally in
Spanish and it was translated into Catalan later on. The translation
rights were sold to publish the book in English, Russian, Italian,
German, Dutch, Portuguese, French and Korean.
Dutch press reaction
Dutch press has reacted with surprise to the actions of the Spanish
government. They unanimously called it 'censorship'. In various articles
they note that 'Victus' is a novel and they describe as grotesque the
Spanish Embassy performance.
-NOS: Spanje verbiedt lezing in Utrecht
-NRC Handelsblad: Spaanse ambassade blaast lezing Sánchez Piñol af
Not the first time
But this is no isolated case. For months, people involved in foreign
relations for the Generalitat have been complaining about pressure
received by the Spanish diplomatic corps with regard to academic or
political activity that they have organized to explain the sovereignty
process to the world.
