13:36 | Arequipa, nov. 6.
By José Vadillo Vila“Peruvian literature is absolutely impressive,” stated Romanian writer Mircea Cărtărescu—one of the most significant voices in European literature—who is participating in the Hay Festival Arequipa.
This morning, during a meeting with the press—where his translator, the Spaniard Marian Ochoa de Eribe, served as a bridge between the Peruvian journalists and the Romanian author—the novelist explained that he feels “wonderful” to have arrived in Peru, a country he had dreamed of visiting since he was very young.
“I have read a great deal about this country. I have read the work of Peruvian writers, many of whom I deeply admire,” said the author of Nostalgia, Melancholia, and Theodorus.
“Vargas Llosa is my hero”
Cartarescu shared that, from a young age, he read Peruvian authors such as the novelist Alfredo Bryce Echenique, the poet César Vallejo, and, of course, Mario Vargas Llosa.
“Vargas Llosa is my hero; I learned how to write literature from him,” remarked the Romanian author, whose name frequently appears in discussions regarding potential Nobel Prize in Literature winners.
Cartarescu recounted that he met Mario Vargas Llosa in person in Málaga, Spain, during the opening of a writers’ festival, where the two engaged in a dialogue on stage.
“It was the greatest moment of my life. I never imagined I would actually meet my idol,” the novelist and poet recalled. However, his knowledge of Peruvian literature also extends to younger authors—“whom I have read with passion”—such as Carlos Castañeda, author of *The Teachings of Don Juan* (1968).
“I read him with great passion because I am very interested in anthropology; I have a passion for the Nazca [culture], for mummies, and for the tridactyls [three-fingered bodies]. I know this is a divisive subject, but I wanted to believe that they are real—that they represent another facet of humanity,” he explained.
In search of the ideal reader
When asked by the Andina News Agency how he defines the “great reader” that major novels require, the poet and prose writer recalled a concept from the Italian writer and semiotician Umberto Eco, who argued that an ideal reader must possess “the same internal encyclopedia as the writer.”
“The ideal reader should be familiar with the world the writer speaks of—its cultural landscape and the sociopolitical characteristics of the world it defines," said the Romanian writer.
"Ideally, they should also share the same reading background as the author. Of course, such a reader does not truly exist, though many people do possess some of these traits,” highlighted.
“I write for people who are like me”
In this regard, Cartarescu remarked: “I do not write for everyone; my books select their own readers. I write for people who are like me—who share my values and ideals, and who love beauty wherever it may be found. That is what I appreciate".
"A writer’s role has always been to protect their inner life. Often, politics divides people rather than bringing them together. To remain a human being, one needs certain traits and a specific atmosphere; literature and the arts help preserve an individual’s inner freedom,” he said.
For Mircea Cartarescu, the first step toward achieving freedom in the world is to liberate oneself—a process in which art plays a fundamental role, he noted.
The power of art
“Bob Dylan once stated that art halts the passage of time. And that is very true. Art stops wars, halts epidemics, puts an end to calamities, and elevates the individual to an ideal sphere. And, of course, art must also address the existence of evil in the world,” said Cartarescu.
He further remarked that art should stand against all forms of tyranny and everything that harms human beings—opposing all types of discrimination, as well as the vast disparities between the extremely wealthy and the extremely poor.
“Thus, an artist is someone who bears a great deal of responsibility, and fortunately, most artists are capable of shouldering that responsibility,” he concluded.
Note:
- As part of the Hay Festival Arequipa program, Cartarescu will appear today at 6:00 p.m. at the Arequipa Municipal Theater for a session titled “The Most ‘Macondian’ Romanian,” a conversation with Dante Trujillo.
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Publicado: 6/11/2026