What are our editors reading? For @becquer.bsky.social, the co-editor of our Lit in Translation section, it’s Michel Nieva’s “Technology and Barbarism: or: how billionaires will save us from the end of the world” translated @rahulbery.bsky.social & Daniel Hahn.

On Our Nightstands: July 2026 - Public Books

At “Public Books,” our editorial staff and contributors are hard at work to provide readers with thought-provoking articles. But when the workday is done, what is actually on our nightstands? Here we…

publicbooks.org

One of the literary revelations for me this year has been Michel Nieva. So, for @publicbooks.bsky.social, I wrote about how I learned to stop worrying and love science fiction—thanks to Nieva. H/t Federico Perelmuter www.publicbooks.org/on-our-night...

On Our Nightstands: July 2026 - Public Books

At “Public Books,” our editorial staff and contributors are hard at work to provide readers with thought-provoking articles. But when the workday is done, what is actually on our nightstands? Here we ...

publicbooks.org

In today's @thenation.com, @becquer.bsky.social and I write about a handful of recent books on Franco and Francoism. With thanks to @davidmarcus.bsky.social. www.thenation.com/article/poli...

How Franco Ruled Spain

Two new books examine these dark decades in Spanish history.

thenation.com

For the latest On Our Nightstands, our editors @njdames.bsky.social, Benjamin R. Cohen, @megancummins.bsky.social, @taoleighgoffe.bsky.social, Leah Price, @becquer.bsky.social, and Gustavus Stadler share what they’re reading. Recs here →

On Our Nightstands: July 2026 - Public Books

At “Public Books,” our editorial staff and contributors are hard at work to provide readers with thought-provoking articles. But when the workday is done, what is actually on our nightstands? Here we…

publicbooks.org

Baptized by Messi himself, Lamine Yamal has tailored his individual brilliance to fit Spain’s collective style, writes @becquer.bsky.social goldengoal.world/2026/07/19/t...

The Passion According to Lamine - Golden Goal

Baptized by Messi himself, Lamine Yamal has tailored his individual brilliance to fit Spain's collective style

goldengoal.world

For @goldengoalmag.bsky.social, I wrote about Lamine Yamal's misunderstood #WorldCup, Spain's new iteration of tiki-taka, and, of course, the baby photos. goldengoal.world/2026/07/19/t...

The Passion According to Lamine - Golden Goal

Baptized by Messi himself, Lamine Yamal has tailored his individual brilliance to fit Spain's collective style

goldengoal.world

I wrote about why I’m going to keep my em dashes and my triads. Also, a reflection on a new article on AI and cancel culture by my brilliant colleague @becquer.bsky.social— his article published in Spanish in @elmundoes.bsky.social open.substack.com/pub/victoria...

I am Not a Robot

I am going to keep my triads and my em dashes

open.substack.com

It's great to have a co-author like @becquer.bsky.social when you need to explain the current state of Spanish politics to a US audience. In @thenation.com we talk about Pedro Sánchez's mounting troubles and why he might still come out on top. www.thenation.com/article/worl...

Pedro Sánchez Is Living on Borrowed Time

Spain’s prime minister has become a global progressive icon. But at home, his government is hanging by a thread.

thenation.com

Love seeing this in print! Thank you to @mlnjournal.bsky.social @becquer.bsky.social and especially @victoriajane.bsky.social for getting this out into the world

MLN Journal@mlnjournal.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Also in our new issue: @lmbowe.bsky.social uses ecocriticism to analyze this Francoist retelling of Armando Palacio Valdes' novel La aldea perdida, in which Asturias must sacrifice her lands and people to the destructive mining industry for the sake of the nation. OA via @hopkinspress.bsky.social

U.S.A., there we go!

Our 2026 Hispanic issue, edited by @becquer.bsky.social, is now on @projectmuse.bsky.social and open access. The cover image is adapted from a 1985 poster for the Brazilian Landless Workers Movement (MST)-- check out the article by Rodrigo Lopes de Barros for full context.

A reminder of the approaching deadline for our Hispanic issue, edited by @becquer.bsky.social We will consider articles in English, Spanish, or Portuguese (and on literature in those languages + Catalan, etc.)

I spoke with the brilliant writer @mahernandez.bsky.social about true crime, the ethics of literature, and the art of taking a nap. Listen and enjoy! open.substack.com/pub/becquer/...

A Conversation with Miguel Ángel Hernández on True Crime, the Ethics of Literature, and the Art of Taking a Nap

Against all odds, I have a podcast (episode)

open.substack.com

En un mes justo volvemos a cruzar el charco para conversar sobre #ThePainOfOthers, que llega a las librerías norteamericanas el 14 de abril, publicada por Other Press y traducida con primor por Nate West. ¡Qué ganas de charlar con @sarahweinman.com @becquer.bsky.social y @topefolarin.bsky.social!

Yesterday, I was on @sobremesapod.bsky.social, hosted by the wonderful @eoghangilmartin.bsky.social, to talk about why Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez seems to be loved everywhere but in his own country. (Link in the thread, which includes other related links.)

Why has Pedro Sánchez been willing to reject US-Israeli aggression against Iran? @becquer.bsky.social & @eoghangilmartin.bsky.social discuss the domestic factors informing his foreign policy & Sánchez's vision for Spain and the EU's place in the new world order: open.spotify.com/episode/7lRT...

Sánchez on the World Stage

open.spotify.com

I wrote about jobs, immigration, and my most recent piece with @sebasfaber.bsky.social for @thenation.com, which is about Madrid. (Link in first reply.) It's my first piece in English. My apologies for the delay to all the English-language readers out there. Many thanks for reading.

New at PB: @xdapena.bsky.social interviews PB literature-in-translation editor @becquer.bsky.social about his book The Op-Ed Novel: A Literary History of Post-Franco Spain (@harvardpress.bsky.social) & the link between contemporary narrative & opinion journalism.

“Not So Ephemeral After All”: Talking Op-Eds, War, and Memory with Bécquer Seguín - Public Books

“Why does the op-ed still hold sway over writers who want to be intellectuals or want to have some public presence?”

publicbooks.org

Today, the interview "de largo aliento" I conducted with @becquer.bsky.social about his book The Op-Ed Novel: A Literary History of Post-Franco Spain is being published. My deepest thanks to Bécquer for the conversation, and to @publicbooks.bsky.social for the opportunity.👇 tinyurl.com/33fh4k3p

“Not So Ephemeral After All”: Talking Op-Eds, War, and Memory with Bécquer Seguín - Public Books

“Why does the op-ed still hold sway over writers who want to be intellectuals or want to have some public presence?”

tinyurl.com

“I became interested in the op-ed as a form. And more generally, I wanted to think about how opinion circulates in modern societies.” New at PB: Bécquer Seguín (@becquer.bsky.social) in conversation with Xavier Dapena (@xdapena.bsky.social).

“Not So Ephemeral After All”: Talking Op-Eds, War, and Memory with Bécquer Seguín - Public Books

“Why does the op-ed still hold sway over writers who want to be intellectuals or want to have some public presence?”

publicbooks.org

“Muñoz Molina has what we might call a hypermoral sensibility, which drives his newspaper writing and, I argue, simultaneously drives his novel writing.” New at PB: @becquer.bsky.social on the novelists who became Spain’s premiere op-ed columnists.

“Not So Ephemeral After All”: Talking Op-Eds, War, and Memory with Bécquer Seguín - Public Books

“Why does the op-ed still hold sway over writers who want to be intellectuals or want to have some public presence?”

publicbooks.org

“The op-ed is ‘journalism’s sonnet,’ according to Francisco Umbral, which is a beautiful way to understand an ephemeral piece of writing that is not so ephemeral after all.” New at PB: @becquer.bsky.social on the art of the op-ed.

“Not So Ephemeral After All”: Talking Op-Eds, War, and Memory with Bécquer Seguín - Public Books

“Why does the op-ed still hold sway over writers who want to be intellectuals or want to have some public presence?”

publicbooks.org

PB editors @megancummins.bsky.social, @njdames.bsky.social, Marlene L. Daut, @taoleighgoffe.bsky.social, Frank Guridy, Tara K. Menon, Leah Price, @becquer.bsky.social, @dan-sinnamon.bsky.social, Abigail Struhl, and Stephanie Wong share their fave books of 2025.

Public Picks 2025 - Public Books

What were the books of 2025 that dazzled, challenged, and inspired us?

publicbooks.org

Our 2025 Editors’ Picks are here! Lit in Translation & Sports co-editor @becquer.bsky.social recommends Luis Martín-Santos's "Time of Silence" (trans. Peter Bush) & @johnnysmith135.bsky.social & Randy Roberts's "The Fight of His Life."

Public Picks 2025 - Public Books

What were the books of 2025 that dazzled, challenged, and inspired us?

publicbooks.org

Madrid's reputation as “a graceless city of reactionary generals and slow-moving civil servants” is undeserved, says Luke Stegemann in his urban biography (@yalepress.bsky.social). Bécquer Seguín (@becquer.bsky.social) and I are not so sure. In @thenation.com. thenation.com/article/cult...

How Immigration Transformed Europe’s Most Conservative Capital

Madrid has changed greatly since 1975, at once opening itself to immigrants from Latin America while also doubling down on conservative politics.

thenation.com

My book has a cover! Inventing Nadar will be out in April 2026 from @dukepress.bsky.social.

For the latest On Our Nightstands, Literature in Translation editor @becquer.bsky.social recommends All Things Are Too Small: Essays in Praise of Excess by Becca Rothfeld.

On Our Nightstands: September 2025 - Public Books

A behind-the-scenes look at what Public Books editors and staff have been reading this month.

publicbooks.org

I had a fascinating conversation with @nicoabu.bsky.social about his 4 decade history of the Francoist dictatorship, 'Ni una, ni grande, ni libre'. We discuss the Spanish path to fascism, how it diverged from the Germany & Italy & how the dictatorship evolved post-WWII while demolishing any idea

@sobremesapod.bsky.social · last yr.

New Episode! The Spanish Path to Fascism & the Evolution of Franco's Dictatorship Historian @nicoabu.bsky.social‬ speaks to @eoghangilmartin.bsky.social about his book 'Ni una, ni grande, ni libre' - a history of the 40 year Francoist dictatorship Spotify open.spotify.com/episode/3JGU...

What a great privilege to get to know and support the truly stellar faculty at Johns Hopkins, especially early in their career. We just announced the 2025 cohort of Catalyst Award recipients. This award will allow them to move into new bold directions. research.jhu.edu/major-initia...