The Casa de América award winner and author of 'The Oblivion We Will Be' will give the opening speech on September 24 at the Círculo Mercantil. The event returns to the Plaza de San Francisco from September 25 to October 18.
The 49th edition of the Antiquarian and Second-Hand Book Fair in Seville (FLAOS) has a prestigious speaker. The Colombian writer Héctor Abad Faciolince, author of the renowned novel The Oblivion We Will Be, will be responsible for opening this unmissable autumn event in Seville. The opening speech will take place on Thursday, September 24 at 20:00 at the Círculo Mercantil e Industrial de Sevilla, with entry by invitation only.
A Fair That Reinvents Itself
The FLAOS, which takes place from September 25 to October 18 in the Plaza de San Francisco, brings together around twenty exhibitors from across Spain. There, one can find everything from first editions and universal classics to maps, lithographs, and current titles at affordable prices. This year's slogan, 'Old Books, New Stories', highlights the experiential nature of the event, according to the Seville City Council.
The president of the Association of Friends of Antiquarian Books in Seville, José Manuel Quesada, has described this edition as "a turning point" for the fair. "We want this 49th edition to mark the beginning of a new stage," he noted, emphasizing that the cultural programming will be strengthened without losing the essence that makes it unique. The goal is to attract new readers and consolidate its projection.
Institutional Support and a Star Line-up
The Culture Delegate of the Seville City Council, Angie Moreno, has highlighted the "step forward" of this edition. "The Antiquarian and Second-Hand Book Fair is one of Seville's major cultural events and a demonstration of how our city knows how to care for its bibliographic heritage," she stated. Moreno emphasized that the programming will be "more ambitious and open to all audiences," turning the Plaza de San Francisco into a meeting point for readers, booksellers, and families.
In addition to the sponsorship from the City Council, the fair has the support of the Ministry of Culture through the General Directorate of Books, Comics, and Reading, and the Provincial Council of Seville. The poster for this edition is designed by the Sevillian illustrator Miguel Brieva, who has created an image that evokes an "ecotopian" city where past and present coexist in harmony.
An Internationally Renowned Speaker
Héctor Abad Faciolince, born in Medellín (Colombia) in 1958, is one of the most significant voices in contemporary Ibero-American literature. His work, translated into more than fifteen languages, includes titles such as Treatise on Culinary Arts for Sad Women, Angosta, and Basura, with which he won the I Casa de América Award for Innovative Narrative. His most famous novel, The Oblivion We Will Be, was successfully adapted into a film.
Angie Moreno has highlighted the "genuine privilege" of having Abad Faciolince as the speaker. "His literary career and the deep commitment of his work to memory, culture, and humanist values align perfectly with the spirit of an event that asserts that every old book still has many stories to tell," she declared.
Books with Their Own History
The fair not only offers unique copies but also advocates for the value of used books as a living cultural object. Each copy bears the imprint of those who read it before and is ready to begin a new life in the hands of another reader. For José Manuel Quesada, the FLAOS is "an extraordinary tool for promoting reading and disseminating bibliographic heritage," as well as a place for intergenerational encounters.
Attendees will be able to enjoy an ambitious programme of parallel activities that will be announced soon. The event, now in its 49th edition, has become one of the most cherished cultural happenings in the Seville calendar, and this year promises to make a qualitative leap without losing its essence.
For book lovers, the FLAOS is a unique opportunity to discover literary gems at affordable prices and to experience the joy of browsing through copies that have traveled through time. Entry is free, and the schedule will be announced soon.
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