José Eduardo Agualusa is a reference of portuguese author of African origin, one of his most acclaimed books is " the seller of pasts" that we addressed in this conversation about books .
The seller of pasts has a feature that is a narrative in two shades, on one side Felix Ventura and the other, Eulalio why choose a gecko as a narrator ?
José Eduardo Agualusa : This book has a very funny route. I think the perspective in a novel is very important when you start to write a book. I needed a narrator who had this perspective, from above, because of what happens in the house, in a confined space and then the idea of a gecko came because I lived a lifetime with this animal, was always present. So it was not a strange thing for me and it is curious that I remember I was on tour to present this book in France when a French man asked me that same question and them there was a Senegalese in the room that stood up and asked what was the strangeness? In Africa, in the traditional stories is very normal animals talk and be a part of everyday life and the truth is as simple as that. Not something elaborate, it so happened, because it was the best narrator for each story.
The presence of talking animals, other phenomenans connected to nature is something that runs through the literature of African origin, not only in your case, but also with other writers .
JEA : Let's say that.The wonderful is inserted in reality in a way that has happened in Europe, but that does not happen as much and are still manifested in rural areas, is less current. In most African countries, at least in the cities I know, still is.
Felix Ventura is a character based on a real person ?
JEA : I did invent everything. Completely .
He in the end is a happy man or not ? Despite the curious name .
JEA : Yes it is true. It is the happy fate. I think so, he has a love story that is solved in a positive way, he will be with the woman he loves .
Of all the characters that you describe in this book which was in terms of writing more difficult ?
JEA : The characters that give the most pleasure are those who have more contradictions, are bad ones, the wicked , and this book has a character who is a former member of the state security that turns into a beggar, this was one that gave more pleasure actually to develop .
Why? The dark side ?
JAE : Precisely by his dark side. I always say, good people are easy to understand, but I do not write books to understand this type of people, those I understand. I write books to understand the bad ones.
