First lights of books
It is possible to conjecture that the first texts on catechism, rhetoric, plane geometry, astronomy, among other subjects necessary for general knowledge, the illustration of the Franciscos and the catechization of “yndian towns”, must have reached the town of Puerto Príncipe after its last location in the center of the historical region of Camagüey, especially after the arrival of the first religious of the order of San Francisco de Asís or de las Llagas, around the year 1599, friars who along with the construction of the hermitage, they will build the annexed convent dedicated to Santa Ana.
It is also possible that the Mercedarian friars brought a large number of texts for their instruction and that of the Spanish faithful who soon began to frequent the hermitage and convent of “Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia de la Real y Militar Orden de la Merced Redentora de Cautivos”. , in 1601.
In 1532, what could be described as the first example of a home gathering, visited by the island’s governor, Don Manuel de Rojas, who was honored by the “doñas” of the Camagüeyan town, seemed to take place. According to the visitor, they “had a snack and had fun” a lot.
To date, the notable residents who bore the surnames Agüero, Argüelles, Castellanos, Cisneros, Figueroa, Miranda, Recio, Sánchez, among others, with origins in Spain, -that of the 16th and 17th centuries-, had their houses in the squares of the Main Church, San Francisco and La Merced, and relatives went there for gatherings. They did not only enjoy the Song of Mío Cid, but also other “books of chivalry”.
The Canarian poet Silvestre de Balboa had to read as much literature as he could gain knowledge in order to compose the epic text Espejo de Paciencia, in 1608; and not only that, but to find out the particularities of British irregular trade with the “West Indies” and especially with the Greater Antilles, ransoms in which the Canarian bard himself was involved and for which he was accused, along with some two hundred principeños, by the judge of the Royal Audience of Santo Domingo.
Despite these accusations against him, he composed what would become the original and iconic work of insular literature, moreover, adding six sonnetists to his suggestively sociopolitical project, who, due to the content of the real octaves, did not appear to be improvised characters. They had literary hobbies.
After a century, in the rectangular building that formed an entire block facing the church-convent of San Francisco de Asís, the Alderman and Royal Ensign Lic. Tomás Pio Betancourt y Sánchez-Pereira would gather in his library hundreds of volumes among which they were willing to read those of the Agramonte Sánchez family, by his two wives of that family, and those of the branch of Betancourt and Sánchez themselves, and relatives: Works of Helvecio, Art of speaking well, Philosophy course , Family Letters by Montesquieu, Constitutions of America, Philosophical and Political Works by Hobbes, Chess Players Manual, French Revolution, Fables by Samaniego, Works by Garcilaso, Popular Education, Poems by Horace…
Meanwhile, in Reina Street, to the bookstore “La historia”, at that time young people came in search of The Count of Monte Cristo, Christian life, Ben Hur, History of Egypt, The Three Musketeers by Dumas… It was not just a “hobby”. For its part, the Puerto Príncipe Economic Deputation had focused its efforts on enriching the Enlightenment of the principeña Creole society. The same purpose was intended by the Royal Court among its lawyers. The Liceo and the Popular Society were not left to the saga in the promotion of reading.
Facing the Main Church, in the house of Don Pedro del Castillo y del Castillo, his daughter Aurelia gathered young people of her time to read the works of romantic poets. Here it was recited by José Jacinto Milanés from Matanzas, by Gabriel de la Concepción Valdés, Plácido; and the emotional Hymn of the Banished, and Ode to Niagara, by the lyrical poet from Santiago José María Heredia; also works by the Spanish romantic José de Espronceda. The literature that was read was varied. From works from the Middle Ages to the Spanish Renaissance. Creole mentalities would be enlightened from these texts and the identity of the “Enlightenment” would be reinforced to change colonial society.
Book Fair in Camagüey
The First Provincial Book Fair in Camagüey took place from Wednesday, February 25th to Saturday, February 28th, 1943, which took place in the Ignacio Agramonte Park. The Lavernia bookstore, Cultural S.A. and booksellers from the city saw the opportunity to place kiosks decorated with little flags on Main Street, which was next to the Cathedral Church, and on the corners of the old Main Square.
The book festival was a success. Children and adults came from all the neighborhoods to acquire the titles of their choice. In nocturnal retreats, the purchases were enlivened by the musical interpretations of the Municipal Band. What an irony!: in the same square where the Spaniards killed the followers of the enlightened free black José Antonio Aponte, in 1812; and to Frasquito Agüero, in March 1826. Agüero, who would have read letters from Bolívar. However, culture surpassed barbarism.
Translated by: Aileen Álvarez García
