Versos versus Versos is the newly launched literary cycle organized by the Instituto Alicantino de Cultura Juan Gil-Albert. Its aim is to give voice to the diverse poetic languages and formats in play today. The inaugural event takes place at the institute’s headquarters, Casa Bardín, and acts as a platform primarily for local authors while opening with two poets who already hold national and international recognition: Benjamín Prado and Nesrine Khoury.
The cycle unfolds through six sessions, each offering a forum for dialogue among writers who approach poetic expression from different angles. In addition, several sessions will extend beyond Alicante to other towns within the province, widening the cycle’s reach.
The first session brings together two poets from distinct generations and backgrounds. Benjamín Prado, a poet and novelist with a well-established career, shares the stage with Nesrine Khoury, a young Syrian author whose work reflects her unique life experiences. The event is scheduled for 7 p.m. and free admission is offered, subject to the venue’s capacity.
Benjamín Prado
Born in Madrid in 1961, Prado is among Spain’s most prominent poetic voices and a member of the Generación del 99, alongside peers such as Aurora Luque, Amalia Bautista, and Vicente Gallego. His work has reached Latin America and has been translated into the United States and numerous European languages. He has received multiple awards, including the Hiperión Prize, the International Poetry Prize Ciudad de Melilla, the Andalucía Novel Prize, the Generación 27 Prize, and the Pop Eye Award.
In addition to poetry, Prado has authored fourteen novels and a range of essays. He has collaborated with renowned musicians such as Joaquín Sabina, Coque Malla, and the group Pereza, illustrating the breadth of his artistic footprint.
Nesrine Khoury
Since settling in Alicante, Nesrine Khoury, born in Syria in 1983, has established herself as a civil engineer who works with the Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums in Syria. Her literary debut appeared in 2015 with the collection With a Drag of War from the Damascus-based Attakwin publishing house, and her second foray into poetry, I Kick the House and Go Out, earned her a grant from the Arab Fund for the Arts and Culture.
Internationally, Khoury has contributed to various anthologies and publications. In 2022 she won the Roissy-en-Brie Poetry Prize for writers and authors who are refugees in Europe, with a collection that was presented at the IAC. Her works have been translated into Spanish, English, French, Catalan, and Italian, reflecting a growing global recognition.