An 'almost normal' Sant Jordi that exceeds expectations

On Passeig de Gràcia there is a queue from early in the morning.

It practically reaches the corner and no writer is signing yet: it is just the queue to enter the Casa del Libro.

An image that has been repeated for two days, that of

.

Because Sant Jordi has not started today.

"

It is very beloved by readers and

is a very special novel, I ran to buy it as soon as I left." It is predicted by none other than

, another best-selling author who, although she does not publish any news ("now I'm writing," she comments), does reissue her first novel,

. Before starting a marathon session of signatures,

posed in the front line for the photo of Sant Jordi at the Gallery Hotel along with other authors from Planeta.

"Yes, we are many female authors. It is a trend in recent years that is here to stay. It is something statistical: women read more than men. For decades we did not have as much presence and visibility in the leading positions of the world of books. But now we are in all genres ", claims Dueñas. Despite this atypical post-pandemic Sant Jordi, without overcrowding and in controlled areas, Dueñas continues to have the same intense agenda as on any Book Day. "From 11 in the morning to 9 at night," he says.

If it weren't for the fact that the streets of Barcelona are not so full of roses -the number of stops has been very restrictive-, today's would almost look like a normal Sant Jordi but with a mask. "

. This day is a miracle," says Javier Cercas, another of the most sought after authors of the day. "Many people have come to show solidarity with me and express their affection", admits the writer ten days after the controversy that his appearance on TV3 caused and the furious reaction of certain sectors of the most radical independence movement against him. But the street is the territory of Cercas: a short distance is where it is best handled and its readers know it. Although most brought him their latest book,

, this year it has also been reissued

, an in-depth analysis of 23-F that also has a theatrical version at the Teatre Lliure, with tickets practically sold out every night. Cercas is fashionable in Catalonia, it always has been. "A book is like a score. The writer puts half the book and the reader the other half: it is he who reads and interprets it," says Cercas, citing one of his characters from

This Sant Jordi can exceed all expectations.

Although the Gremi de Llibreters forecasts were to sell 900,000 books, 60% of what was bought in 2019

.

From Planeta, although cautious, some already pointed out that the 2019 figures could be exceeded. "People have started buying earlier. It is still too early to say, but sales may be similar or even better than those of 2019," says

, the mythical editor of

who a few months ago rescued his unpublished stories in

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

Know more

See links of interest

• Holidays 2021

• Home THE WORLD TODAY

• Nadal - Nishikori, live

• Atlético - Huesca, live

• Anadolu Efes Istanbul - Real Madrid

• Leicester City - West Bromwich Albion

• Barcelona - Getafe, live