Little Emma is around four years old and lives in a shack without windows or even the most basic comforts. Every morning, her task is to carry a brimming chamber pot to the sewage pit and empty it – only then can playtime begin. When the woman they live with abandons Emma and her sister, the girls end up in a convent. There, along with 150 other orphans, they spend their days scrubbing floors, washing pots, mending and ironing laundry, and embroidering exquisite robes for church officials. None of them can read or know anything about the world beyond the convent walls.

Emma Reyes (1919–2003) was a Colombian artist who was born into extreme poverty and grew up illiterate in a convent. She later became a renowned painter, collaborated with Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, and spent most of her life in Paris. In 1969, she began recounting her childhood and youth in a series of letters to a friend – letters that together form a powerful, artistic narrative. Although fellow Colombian Gabriel García Márquez encouraged Reyes to publish her writing, she only agreed for it to be released posthumously. The book, comprised of letters sent over thirty years, was first published in 2012 and was named Colombia’s Book of the Year. It has since been translated into over 15 languages.

Everyone is welcome at the Hispaania Maja book club – whether you’ve completely read the book or are just curious to learn more. Our past discussions have shown that reading together helps uncover new layers and perspectives, making the experience even more enriching. And if you haven’t read the book yet, feel free to join for inspiration!

The discussion will be moderated by Mari Laan from Toledo Publishing, and the event is supported by the Embassy of Spain and Embassy of Colombia in Poland.

The book club will be held in Estonian. Participation is free, but registration is required on the website of Hispaania Maja.