jesús carrasco and virginia mendoza
The new edition of Europalia celebrates Spanish culture and Passa Porta is happy to be involved. We asked Jesús Carrasco and Virginia Mendoza to each write a new text on an element that plays a key role in their books: water. They will present their texts for the first time in Brussels, where they will also discuss their work.
In collaboration with Europalia and Instituto Cervantes Brussels
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thirst
La Sed (Thirst) by anthropologist and writer Virginia Mendoza is an original history of humankind in its search of water. Because she grew up in an extremely dry region, Mendoza learned the value of water at an early age. The quest for water has determined our history. It drove our ancestors far from their place of origin, along rivers and across deserts. It caused civilizations to rise and fall, fed us but also starved us. Mendoza’s book is a fascinating journey through the world and history, but also through the challenges we face today.
"La Sed (Thirst) has earned a place alongside Yuval Noah Harari’s Sapiens."
in praise of hands
Jesús Carrasco was born in Extremadura, one of the driest provinces of Spain. His novels have been translated into more than thirty languages and received various literary awards. The characters in his novels all have a strong connection to the earth and nature, and water is a source of life that should never be taken for granted. In his new novel, Elogio de las manos (In praise of hands), a family takes on a life-changing challenge: the renovation of an old house in the countryside that could be demolished at any moment.
europalia
Together with Europalia España and with the support of Instituto Cervantes, we asked Carrasco and Mendoza to each write a new text on the theme of ‘water’. We are very curious to see what insights and reflections they are going share with us. The authors will read their previously unpublished texts in Spanish (translations will be provided in Dutch and French). The authors will then discuss this theme and other topics in their novels.
about the authors
Virginia Mendoza (b. 1987, Spain) is an anthropologist and writer. She grew up in La Mancha, the region with the least rainfall in Europe. La Sed (Thirst) was received enthusiastically by critics and readers and is set to be released in six languages.
Jesús Carrasco (b. 1972) was born in Extremadura, one of the driest and most thinly populated provinces of Spain. His debut novel, Intemperie (Elements), was published in more than thirty countries and earned him several literary awards and nominations. It was widely acclaimed by literary critics both in Spain and internationally, as were Carrasco’s subsequent novels, La tierra que pisamos (The ground we tread) and Llévame a casa (Take me home). In 2024 Carrasco won the Premio Biblioteca Breve for Elogio de las manos (In praise of hands).
In collaboration with Europalia and Instituto Cervantes Brussels
pictures: jesús carrasco © Ivan Giménez, virginia mendoza © Yoely Estudio
Our partners for this event
Soont at Passa Porta
