BTN News: The popular Spanish writer Arturo Pérez-Reverte recently shared a surprising and serendipitous discovery on his profile on X, the social media platform previously known as Twitter. While out and about, Pérez-Reverte stumbled upon something extraordinary—a fragment from his own novel, La tabla de Flandes, inscribed on a wall. This unexpected find serves as a vivid reminder of the strange ways the world often circles back on itself, and how stories can take on lives of their own long after they’ve left the pen of their creator.
In the post, Pérez-Reverte included a photograph of the wall, where the dialogue from his 1990 novel is clearly visible. The passage captures an exchange between two characters, marked by its characteristic wit and charm:
- “Cada vez estás más guapa,” he complimented her, standing with exaggerated admiration in the middle of the street. “How do you do it, my dear?”
- “Don’t be silly. We’ve only been apart for an hour.”
- “That’s what I mean, princess. You’re the only woman I know who can become even more beautiful in just sixty minutes… If there’s a trick to it, you should patent it. Seriously.”
- “Idiot.”
- “Gorgeous.”
Accompanying this evocative dialogue is a simple yet elegant drawing of two flowers, their stems intertwined, along with the author’s initials, “A.P. Reverte,” and the year 1990, marking when the novel was originally published.
The writer’s post quickly gained traction, garnering over 2,000 likes and being viewed more than 100,000 times, demonstrating the deep connection many readers still feel towards Pérez-Reverte’s work. The serendipity of this encounter, where the author himself comes face-to-face with his words, now etched into the fabric of public space, highlights the enduring impact of literature on both individual lives and the broader cultural landscape.
This moment serves as a fascinating example of how the written word can transcend the boundaries of a book’s pages, finding new expression in the most unexpected places. For fans of Arturo Pérez-Reverte, and literature in general, it’s a reminder of the timeless nature of stories, and how they continue to resonate and inspire long after they’ve been told.
In a world where digital and physical spaces increasingly blend, this small yet significant event encapsulates the magic of literature—how it can surprise us, connect us, and remind us of the intricate web of human experience that ties us all together. The fact that this particular piece of dialogue from La tabla de Flandes was found in such an organic and unplanned way only adds to its charm, offering a poignant reflection on the unpredictable and sometimes poetic ways that life unfolds.
Arturo Pérez-Reverte’s discovery is more than just a quirky coincidence; it’s a testament to the power of words and their ability to inspire and endure, no matter where they might appear.
