Puerto Rico’s “Festival of the Word”

http://www.festivaldelapalabra.net/

The “Festival de la Palabra” (Festival of the Word) will transform Puerto Rico into the Caribbean’s literary and cultural focal point during the first week of May, according to the director of the event, writer Mayra Santos-Febres.

The author of “Nuestra Señora de la Noche” said that the Ballajá Quarter of Old San Juan will host a festival designed to foster reading in Puerto Rico and which is expected to attract more than 50,000 visitors.

Attending the event in the Puerto Rican capital between May 4-9 will be writers of the caliber of Alfredo Bryce Echenique, Jorge Volpi, Enrique Vilá Matas, Gioconda Belli, Santiago Roncagliolo, Fernando Iwasaki, Rosa Montero, and Nuyorican poet Willie Perdomo.

Santos-Febres emphasized that the festival also will bring about a dialogue among the literatures and cultures of the Caribbean, Latin America in general, Europe and the Hispanic community in the United States.

She explained that during the Festival of the Word, some of the most outstanding writers will visit schools and universities all over the Caribbean island. Via Americareadsspanish.org

José Saramago will open the event with a live teleconference.

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