"They tried to kill me.
They want to pull out my teeth.
Be alert, it could happen to you!"
And all of this full of good humor!
EL MECANISME
(The Mechanism)
ArTicLes:
Papyrus: The Invention of Books in the Ancient World
Rating: ★★★☆☆
Infinity in a Reed is an ambitious work that seeks to explain the history of books and reading since Antiquity, combining historical essay with a carefully crafted literary prose. Its main strength lies in the ability to connect past and present: from the libraries of Alexandria to today’s challenges of written culture. Vallejo offers moments of great beauty, with brilliant metaphors and a contagious enthusiasm for literature.
It is no coincidence that this book was awarded the National Essay Prize 2020 and has become an international success, translated into many languages and read worldwide. It is a book that awakens fascination and opens doors to knowledge in an accessible yet poetic way.
However, this very ambition is also its weakness. The narration, often full of digressions and jumps between eras, can feel scattered and exhausting. The style, though elegant, tends towards rhetorical excess, and some passages are so dense that they overshadow the interest they intend to spark. Moreover, the mix of divulgation and lyricism leaves an uneven impression: neither an academic manual nor a linear narrative.
In short, Infinity in a Reed is a valuable and deservedly acclaimed book, but not an essential one. It is read with admiration for the passion it conveys, but also with a certain fatigue caused by stylistic exuberance and lack of narrative rhythm.
Cover
The cover is an absolute success. The image of the reed, delicately drawn and spreading like a vegetal firework, exquisitely symbolizes the birth of the book in Egyptian papyrus and its infinite projection through time. The clear, sober typography fits perfectly with the essayistic nature of the work. The soft-toned background creates a pleasant contrast with the illustration and invites reading. It is also worth highlighting that the design is by Carlos Montero, who succeeds in conveying the content and spirit of the book with refined and memorable beauty.
*Vallejo, Irene. El infinito en un junco. Ediciones Siruela, S.A... Madrid, 2020. 17ª Edición. 449 pp. Portada: Carlos Montero. ISBN: 978-84-17860-79-0