Sponsored by UBC Latin American Studies
Del carbonero al arbutus: A conversation on Cartografías del bosque (Cartographies of the Woods)
Presented by author María Adelaida Escobar Trujillo, Lecturer of Spanish (UBC FHIS)
With special commentary from:
- Tamara Mitchell, Assistant Professor of Spanish (UBC FHIS)
- María Carbonetti, Lecturer of Spanish (UBC FHIS)
- María Julieta Cordero, PhD Graduate of Hispanic Studies (UBC FHIS)
- Mariana Murillo, Book Translator
Program:
- Bilingual conversation (English/Spanish) about the book
- Live readings of poetry and prose
- Audience Q&A and discussion
- Book raffle/giveaways
- Book sale
- Reception
The event will take place in Spanglish.
Book description:
Book cover of Cartografías del bosque (2025) by María Adelaida Escobar Trujillo. Published by P & P Editores. Cover art by Ana María Cadavid.
Written by Tamara Mitchell
Blending narrative nonfiction, nature writing, and poetry, María Adelaida Escobar Trujillo’s Cartographies of the Woods is a love letter to an adopted land and to the companions—human, canine, sylvan, and marine—that cohabit the author’s world. With a voice evocative of Mariana Oliver’s Aves migratorias or Elisabeth Tova Bailey’s The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating, Escobar offers a moving reflection on migration and belonging, human and natural relations, life and death, and love and kinship.
The nonhuman world in Escobar’s lyrical language is not distant and anonymous, but deeply rooted in place, specifically, the tropical Andes of Colombia and, especially, the forested shores of British Columbia. From lichen to sea lions, hummingbirds to bears, Escobar’s vivid prose lends agency and vitality to her more-than-human surroundings, while also capturing the fragility of life. A poignant contribution to Hispanic-Canadian letters, Cartographies offers an intimate meditation on migration, memory, and our relationships with the natural world.
About the FHIS Research Seminar:
Hosted by the Department of French, Hispanic and Italian Studies (FHIS) and open to the entire UBC community, the FHIS Research Seminar is a forum for sharing the latest research related to French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, and Romance Studies. Each seminar involves thought-provoking presentations by guest speakers, faculty members, and graduate students. Engage in lively discussions, connect with fellow scholars, and enjoy complimentary coffee, tea, and light refreshments. Please RSVP in advance to confirm your attendance.
Registration:
Contact:
If you have questions, please contact Katharina Piechocki (katharina.piechocki@ubc.ca).
UBC Vancouver is situated on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam) People.
