Lorenzo Silva is one of the greats of Spanish literature. Winner of two of the most prestigious awards of our letters -the Nadal and the Planet-, each of his new books is expected with Expectation for thousands of readers.The adventures of Bevilacqua and Chamorro , the couple of civil guards who star in the series of novels that began with "The distant country of the ponds", is already part of the history of our lyrics and, more importantly, of the intimate story of many fans of good police stories.
Lawyer and Carabanchel, Honorary Civil Guard, Silva is also distinguished by being a very active Twitter user , where he has starred in more of a bitter debate related to piracy that has damaged so much caused to the publishing sector.
In this interview, he tells us about his latest book, the writer's job, Afghanistan, social networks, respect for culture and the professionals that make it possible and even makes us some literary recommendation.
In the preparatory work of your latest novel, "Where the Scorpions", you traveled to Afghanistan and this is something surprising in these times when it seems that the entire planet borders the edges of the screen of our smartphone.Wasn't it easier to use Google? Was it a necessary trip or did I also have some gesture of rebellion in front of a certain literature and journalism that pontificates the world from an armchair of earmuffs?
I could have used Google, yes, and the books that exist on the subject and the testimonies that without moving from here can be collected from those who have been there.In fact, use all that, and I was surprised, for example, what It’s good that Herat’s base is visible in Google Earth’s satellite imagery (you have to know where it is, but it’s amazing, it looks like the same bar where I’m staying).
However, I aspired to something more than having the basic information so as not to lose myself or to appear to know.I needed to know first hand the sensations, share even if it were to a minimum extent and for a short time luck, days and conditions of those who lived that.As Proust said, Impression is the only substance of our life and also of literature. And it has to go through your pores; if you want, as Stendhal advised, to be able to give those details where the truth is.Maybe if, there may be some nineteenth-century rebellion against the virtual in the fact of going to eat dust and sweat under the helmet.It served to believe me what I was going to tell. I couldn't have done it any other way.
"In the most adverse circumstances there are those who manage to contribute something to their peers"
What gave you the experience on the ground, both in the personal field and in your documentation work?
For the novel it was vital, I already tell you: I think that without that experience would not exist, I would not have known what to say, outside of three or four vaguenesses and common places that were not what in this case could justify the Endeavor .Personally, I teach myself a lot, maybe like few other trips I have made.I would say that helped me to better understand my fellow men and the world in which I live , not always in a positive sense; in fact it is a knowledge impregnated with frequent bitterness, but also with some hope, to see how in the most adverse circumstances there are those who manage to contribute something to their peers.
Travel, document, lock yourself in a room with the hope of writing some interest, personal sacrifices, etc.I imagine you have devoted much time and effort to this book, what did you feel when you saw the file uploaded to the network shortly after launch?
I hardly feel anything anymore. I know that I live in a country that does not respect my work or what it represents. I try to ignore unscrupulous people who appropriate it, without the government to which I pay my taxes do or will do nothing to prevent it, and focus on those that can be appropriated retain the decency to continue giving back my effort, and fortunately they also exist.
I started in 2000 with a website and a public email address. A rudimentary social network, which has provided me with great services.I have received more than 100,000 messages at that address, I have responded many of them, and in that exchange a link has been created with many readers, who in some cases have even given me arguments and ideas for my books or, already in the end, have co-written some with me (the case of Luis Miguel Francisco, with who comes into contact through that way, and with whom I end up making a book about Iraq).
I was not looking for anything too premeditated, beyond establishing a channel of relationship with readers, without intermediaries and reciprocally enriching (as experience has shown).But that was, in effect, the embryo of a community that then it has happened to the social networks themselves (especially Twitter; Facebook seems too rigid and neat) and that has provided me with a blessed buffer for this devastating crisis that has shaken the publishing world.
Who has affection for you, who considers you "his own", is not only a faithful reader of what you do, but it gives him trouble, if he can, stop rewarding you for it.
«Twitter has become an efficient way to serve my readers»
What have you learned so far from your immersion in the networks? Has it entailed any personal or professional cost? Do you think that your speech on the Internet and your presence on Twitter may have contributed to some potential Reader, given the possibility of downloading your last book from the Internet for free, have you finally decided to go through the library?
Networks take time, distract you if you don't control them, and give people who don't have anything better to do to attack you and if you're not too cold, they make you waste energy in vain, but all those risks can be conjured up and turn into advantages: for me, for example, Twitter has become a very efficient and agile way of serving my readers , because a short message you can always put it, instead you don't always have time to answer everything what you get by email.
And to those who attack me I always give it a chance: many times I understand immediately that I have to block it, but other times a dialogue is established and yes, it is even possible that someone who started looking at you and treating you with hostility reconsiders and comes to consider Maybe some reason will assist you. Someone has told me that yes, that after reading my arguments on the networks, he has understood that appropriating someone else's book is an illegitimate and essentially harmful act, for people whose work you despise (not just the author), for all readers and for offering quality books that they may have at their disposal.
"Much of the popularity of the ebook is due to piracy"
In my case, I confess that I am unable to read a book that requires a minimum of concentration on other media than paper, do you think the ebook has become popular for storage and reading convenience or Why does it make it easier to create a library through internet downloads?
I read a lot in the ebook when I travel, or texts that I need to read for work, because of this greater storage capacity.But I have no doubt that in Spain a good part of the popularity of the ebook is due to this piracy so unpunished, and as assimilated as something normal and socially acceptable , that one comes to think that it is even sponsored by the authorities; Yes, that from time to time they act like they legislate, but everything translates into laws so inoperative and application mechanisms so impotent that the bulk of the files stored by our Kindles, iPads and other gadgets are swiped.I do not say it by intuition , I have confirmed several informatics that are dedicated to repair them.
What else can you do to convince someone that culture has value and that, or it puts a price on that value, or there is a risk that the culture ceases to exist or is "low cost" quality?
Honestly, I have tired of repeating the obvious. Who does not care what he wants, loses it, in all the orders of life. The Spanish libraries have already lost diversity.There are already many books relevant that are not translated, because the editor knows that the piracy fee to be discounted will prevent him from paying the translator.
Not to mention the work of authors in Spanish that is confined in minority or invisible circuits, authors who on the other hand receive zero pay for their work and have to use enthusiasm and cannot work their works in conditions.
I read more and more in French, English and German books that I don't have available in Spanish, and I am infinitely glad of the hours I dedicate to study those languages, but I don't think that language learning is so widespread among us.Alla each one.In the end, it also happens in all the orders of life, we will have what we have earned.
«Bevilacqua and Chamorro help me to reflect the Spanish reality»
Returning to your book, will we see Bevilacqua and Chamorro travel abroad again in their next adventures? Maybe you are considering changing landscapes to explain the world through the eyes of your characters...
Essentially, Bevilacqua and Chamorro help me to reflect the contemporary Spanish reality, of which Afghanistan is part of it, and that trip is there, but they have made some other trip outside Spain and there will surely be more.
Finally, we recommend three books to take us this summer to the beach that can accompany well-"pairing" that the chefs of glimpse-yours would say.
Well look, I'll get Afghan and recommend three with that theme:
- One recently translated, from the recent (and extraordinary) Belarusian Nobel laureate Svetlana Alexievich: The Zinc Boys , about Soviet ex-combatants in Afghanistan.Metramecedor.
- Another one not yet translated, but which will appear in Spain in autumn: Anatomy Of A Soldier , by the British veteran of Afghanistan Harry Parker, a powerful book in his theme ( He tells in parallel the life of a Taliban and that of the British officer whom the Afghan will lose both legs with an improvised explosive device) and very well written.
- And lastly, I am sorry, one of those books that are not translated nor do I think they are translated, because it is no longer profitable to do so: Afgantsy , by the also British Rodric Braithwaite.Perhaps the book, of all those I have read, that best makes it possible to understand the Afghan hornet.
Here you can read the first chapter of Where the Scorpions.
The image that heads this interview is taken from the Complutense University of Madrid.
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