A little over two weeks ago, the Peruvian Nobel gave a scare in the world of literature, when he was hospitalized with pneumonia, due to contamination by coronavirus, in a clinic in Madrid, where he lives.
As soon as he was discharged, Mario Vargas Llosa got on a plane and came to the Buenos Aires International Book Fair (which takes place from April 28 to May 16), which for the first time takes place in person after two years of interruption due to the pandemic.
Supported by a cane, with a downcast gaze, 86, he nevertheless submitted to a hectic schedule. At the Fair, he walked around surrounded by assistants and arousing curiosity in those present. On Friday (6), his first appointment was a lecture with Spanish Javier Cercas, on literature.
The meeting was held to celebrate an agreement between the Vargas Llosa Chair and Fundación El Libro (a civil entity that brings together publishers, bookstores, writers and promotes the fair). The decision, which aims to give scholarships and promote prizes to new authors, did not please the entire Argentine literary world. This is because, in recent times, Vargas Llosa, a leftist in his youth, has become increasingly radicalized to the right, having recently supported the daughter of his biggest rival, Keiko Fujimori, in the Peruvian elections, and the ultra-rightist José Antonio Kast, who ended up defeated in Chile. Vargas Llosa is also associated with Fundación Libertad, an international NGO based in Rosario that brings together right-wing parties from the continent.
For the more progressive profile of the Book Fair and its patrons, Vargas Llosa’s presence was, therefore, a little uncomfortable.
Not so much, however, to his fans, who filled the largest room at the fair, which takes place in the pavilions of Sociedad La Rural, and applauded the Nobel on several occasions.
Vargas Llosa spoke of the power of the Spanish language, stating that it was “the good thing that Spain left in colonization, because we can understand each other from Mexico to Argentina and also in Spain. We can read each other and also the world”.
Then, as on many other previous occasions, he told a little about his intellectual trajectory. “I learned French at the Alianza Francesa in Lima, I prepared to write in French. But when I went to Paris, I discovered the Latin American world and even the Peruvian one, as several Latin American writers were there. My interest in Latin America increased with the Cuban Revolution (1959)”.
He stated that literature is necessary to monitor and confront governments and autocracies: “Literature is fundamental. Governments want to convince us that things are well done, that reality is going well, and literature tells us no, it exposes us problems. We need to be aware that we cannot tolerate government interference in artistic creation”.
On Sunday (8), Vargas Llosa presented his latest book, “La Mirada Quieta”, which deals with the work of Spanish writer Benito Pérez Galdós.
Even with his busy schedule at the book fair, Vargas Llosa found time for a political meeting. He accepted an invitation from former president Mauricio Macri to have lunch on Saturday at his country house near Buenos Aires, where several leaders of the opposition alliance Juntos por el Cambio, which aims to return to power next year, were present. when there are presidential elections in Argentina.
In addition to the former president, the former minister Patricia Bullrich and the former governor of Mendoza Alfredo Cornejo were present. Macri released several photos next to the Nobel, known for his fierce criticism of Peronism and Kirchnerism.
Just before boarding, Vargas Llosa stated that “Argentina is a total nonsense. It has all the natural and human resources to be a leader in the economy, but it remains hostage to a group of authoritarians, headed by Cristina Kirchner, who keep the country in backwardness, inflation and poverty, defending an obsolete anti-capitalism”.
