Eduardo Mendoza stopped by the set last night to talk about the program Anthill. The renowned author, known for novels like No News from Gurb and City of Wonders, recently took part in a launch moment on Antena 3. He announced the start of a new project titled Three riddles for the organization, a book he began writing after declaring his retirement.
He explained that a recent decision to retire came after a period of reflection. Yet pleasure in writing tugged him back. He admitted he does not see himself pursuing another craft, and he feels it is too late to learn something entirely new. Mendoza, who earned the Cervantes Prize in 2016, described the move as a way to keep himself occupied and engaged with the craft he loves.
As is customary on the program, current political and social events were woven into the conversation. The host, known for guiding open discussions, asked Mendoza for his take on the Catalan conflict and the current climate in the region. Mendoza paused, then offered his perspective in measured terms. He suggested that the intensity surrounding the issue had been amplified by media narratives and that daily life in Catalonia showed a different rhythm from what some headlines imply. He spoke of a fatigue settling in after a prolonged period of tension and expressed a desire to return to normalcy, regardless of the overarching situation.
When asked about the different angles from journalists, Mendoza noted that non-Catalan reporters often pressed him on topics such as amnesty and regional leadership, while reporters from Catalonia focused on books, football, and cuisine. He observed that the internal dynamics in the region can feel very different from outside appearances, and he emphasized that the inside story rarely matches the outside view.
During the interview, Mendoza also interacted with the program’s playful mascots, who posed a challenging question about publishing economics. They asked how much the average author might earn from a book priced around twenty euros. The conversation shifted as Mendoza explained the typical distribution of earnings. He described an initial share assigned to the author, a commission for the literary agent, and the remainder that flows through taxes and other deductions. He noted that the exact percentages vary and that the final take can be modest, often leaving only a small sum for the writer after all costs are covered. The moment drew laughter from the audience as the host and mascots kept the tone light and insightful, blending humor with a candid look at the realities of publishing. This exchange illustrated Mendoza’s willingness to discuss the practical side of writing, beyond the glamour of authorship, while staying true to the craft he continues to pursue.