TIBF to commemorate Márquez

Tehran, May 4, IRNA - Tributes will be paid to the late Colombian novelist Gabriel García Márquez in a ceremony at the ongoing 27th Tehran International Book Fair (TIBF). This was announced by Beatriz De Salas, who is in charge of the pavilion for member states of ALBA–the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America—at TIBF, in an exclusive interview with the English-language newspaper published Sunday. “Márquez was an iconic figure in Latin American literature. We intend to commemorate the great author in a ceremony with literary figures and members of the Colombian Embassy in Tehran,” she said “Persian translations of Márquez works have been warmly received at TIBF. Of course, this can be related to the author’s recent death.” Gabriel José de la Concordia García Márquez was a also a short-story writer, screenwriter and journalist, known affectionately as Gabo throughout Latin America. Considered one of the most significant authors of the 20th century, he was awarded the 1982 Nobel Prize in Literature. Márquez died in April 2014. Salas, also in charge of the cultural office of the Venezuelan Embassy in Tehran, said the books presented at the ALBA pavilion introduce Latin American culture, literature, politics as well as eminent personalities such as the former Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez, Argentine revolutionary Che Guevara and Cuban leader Fidel Castro. She referred to the books, including ‘Cuentos Aranero’, which narrates Chavez autobiography, as well as ‘Doña Bárbara’ by Venezuelan author Rómulo Gallegos as those available at the fair. The embassy is also offering ‘The Bolivarian Political Ideologies’ free of charge at the fair. The Venezuelan Embassy participates in the fair every year, and finds the event a proper opportunity for introducing the Latin American culture, she added. Salas’ Spanish translation of ‘Shahnameh’, a great epic by classical Persian poet Abolqassem Ferdowsi, was presented at the previous edition of TIBF. “In a joint effort with the Venezuelan Embassy and Culture and Islamic Guidance Ministry, I managed to translate this splendid book to Spanish, which is regarded as the world second live language.” “Iran boasts a rich culture and literature. There are recurrent stories themed on social, cultural and political issues in ‘Shahnameh’ which can touch readers of all age groups.” Both Iranians and Venezuelans are friendly and revolutionary, she added. end