Photograph of Jesús Sánchez Adalid: (c) Antonio Amores. Courtesy of Ingenio de Comunicaciones.
Jesus Sánchez Adalid has a new novel, Weapons of light. The Extremaduran writer of historical novels has a such a wide trajectory that is almost lost in time and achievements: The Light of the East, The Mozarabic, The Captive, The Sublime Door, The Knight of Alcántara, Alcazaba... It has been a pleasure to be able to do this interview with the. In it he tells us about this new work and also tells a little about his favorite authors or the publishing scene. I really appreciate your time and kindness dedicated.
JESÚS SÁNCHEZ ADALID - INTERVIEW
- ACTUALIDAD LITERATURA: Your new novel is Weapons of light. What can you tell us about her?
JESUS SANCHEZ LEADER: Weapons of light is a soul trip towards an extremely interesting period in history, the end of the XNUMXth century and the beginning of the XNUMXth century. It is a time as fascinating as it is unknown.
It all begins when, around the year 1000, almanzor again and again threatens the north of the Hiberian peninsula. Some mysterious ships arrive on the Tarragona coast and they leave a stranger present in the small port of Cubelles. The vital adventures of two boys will take us through the various territories of Catalonia, when the fast-paced military campaigns that will culminate in Cordova.
The idea came from the encounter with an impressive historical event, but inexplicably unknown. I found the data almost by chance ... There are stories that seem to be waiting for the present moment to be written.
It all started while researching a previous novel, when a very significant piece of information appeared in the Islamic chronicles that was totally unknown to me: lThe Catalans sacked Córdoba in the early XNUMXth century, when the caliphate was still in full force. This happened just after Almanzor's death, and as a well-planned revenge. Because almanzor before, in the year 985, he had looted and destroyed Barcelona in turn, taking to Cordoba all his wealth and thousands of captives.
The Catalan counts never forgot that, and neither did the fact that the Franks had not come to help them. From then on, they decided to become independent from the Frankish monarchy to start their own journey, despite the great threat posed by Muslims. The occasion for revenge came when the caliphate was embroiled in civil war. The Catalans gathered a great army and descended to Córdoba, which was still the richest and most splendid city in the West.
I've searched faithfully recreate life in castles and warrior camps, the peculiar relationships between nobles and clergy, the rich monastic culture, daily customs, love, war, fear and courage ... Always in the fascinating settings of a singularly beautiful and rugged land, but also fertile and full of luminous cities: Barcelona, Gerona, Seo de Urgell, Vic, Solsona, Besalú, Berga, Manresa, Tortosa, Lérida…; and of great monasteries that extend their influence: Santa María de Ripoll, San Cugat, San Juan de las Abadesas, San Pedro de Rodas, San Martín de Canigó… With the splendorous Caliphate Cordoba as a backdrop.
In the midst of all this, a young woman will be discussed for break free from the bondage of your closed familiar world learning method
Another crucial figure de Weapons of light es olivia, son of the counts of Cerdanya and Besalú, who in the year 1002 renounces his inheritance to become a monk. Amid the confusion and violence, a man emerges whose sanity and wisdom will bring light, and will discover the true treasure, which is spiritual in nature ...
- AL: Do you remember the first book you read? And the first story you wrote?
JSA: The first book I remember reading was titled I am from Extremadura. It was a book children's that described things of Extremadura and told stories of Extremadura characters from the past.
I wrote the first story when I was 10 years old. Was a story about a pianist.
- AL: What was the first book that struck you and why?
JSA: I was very shocked Michael Strogoff by Jules Verne. It moved me, it kept me in tension, it made me travel… I have never been able to forget that story.
- AL: Who is your favorite writer? You can choose more than one and from all eras.
JSA: This is not an easy question to answer in my case. But I try ... Miguel Delibes, as a contemporary Spanish author. cheep barojaBenito Perez Galdós, Lewis Landman… Foreigners: Victor Hugo, Fyodor Dostoievski, Lion Tolstoy, Anton Chekhov, Vladimir Nabokov (I am from Russian authors ...). But also Thomas Man, Virginia Woolf, orhan Cotton, Nagib Mafoud, Najib Mahfoud… There are so many!
- AL: What character in a book would you have liked to meet and create?
JSA: The viscount half by Italo Calvino when we have the information.
- AL: Any mania when it comes to writing or reading?
JSA: I write with a black ink pen on white folio. Then it goes to the computer ...
I read by a window from my house in Alange. In front of a quite beautiful landscape.
- AL: And your preferred place and time to do it??
JSA: La evening fall next to that window.
- AL: Any other genres that you like besides the historical one?
JSA: I don't usually read historical novels, since I spend a lot of time reading history, treatises, chronicles, essays ... For the rest, I read a little of everything: philosophytravel books classical, biographies and even cookbooks and gastronomy.
- AL: What are you reading now? And writing?
JSA: I read a book of Eugenio Zolli, Titulado Before dawn. And I am writing the script for a documentary of historical subject.
- AL: How do you think the publishing scene is for as many authors as there are or want to publish?
JSA: I think there are many opportunities. Digital support is a good time to start. Never be discouraged. The good news is that, despite the pandemic, the publishing market has grown and is read much more than a year ago.
- Is the moment of crisis that we are experiencing being difficult for you or will you be able to stay with something positive?
JSA: It is a terrible time. But, in my case, I have been able to reflect and work with greater stillness and concentration.
The times we are living in are indeed sad, bleak ... We are facing a new and unexpected situation. All of us, grown up in a culture that increasingly tried to banish pain and death, we are suddenly faced with fragility and helplessness. The questions come to us directly and violently through the imminent danger and fear that agitates us. It is the fear of getting sick, of being kidnapped in an intensive care unit… It is, finally, the fear of dying. The pandemic has returned us to death, the most terrible and insurmountable event for many.
I have come across very painful situations. But also this rare time, like all adverse circumstances, has its teachings and its moments of comfort and light. There is not enough space here to tell the cases with the necessary description. Suffice it to say that I am discovering exciting things about the human beingThat marvel that we are! A mysterious mixture of shadows and lights ... There are people who come to me, often in wonder, for having discovered internally, for the encounter with many human virtues that remained latent and that now surface ... Recovered friendships, Disunited families that meet again, unexpected calls, forgiveness, reconciliation, heroic acts, disinterest, sincere love ... I am sure that from now on nothing will be the same!