Alberto Manguel invites reflection on literature and memory with two special events in Istanbul. At Yapı Kredi Bookstore, he will hold a book signing, and at İstanbul Modern, he will join artist Ali Kazma for a conversation, offering a deep dialogue on reading, archives, and memory. The writer, essayist, and literary historian Alberto Manguel will visit Istanbul in June. Organized in collaboration with Yapı Kredi Publishing and İstanbul Modern, the events include a signing session and a special talk with Ali Kazma.
On Friday, June 13, 2025, from 4:00 to 6:00 PM, Alberto Manguel will sign his books at Yapı Kredi Publishing Bookstore’s Beyoğlu branch. Many of his works translated into Turkish—such as A History of Reading, Library at Night, The Merciful Vampire, and his recent Gathering My Library—have resonated widely among readers. This signing will bring together Manguel’s fans and literature enthusiasts in Istanbul.
On Saturday, June 14, a special conversation between Alberto Manguel and artist Ali Kazma will take place at İstanbul Modern. The event is connected to the ongoing exhibition Landscapes of the Mind and is inspired by Kazma’s video work Alberto in Lisbon, which focuses on Manguel’s process of moving his 35,000-book library from France to Portugal.
Moderated by Demet Yıldız Dinçer, one of the exhibition curators, the talk promises an enlightening dialogue on memory, libraries, migration, and personal relationships with knowledge. This event is also the first public gathering related to the exhibition.
Manguel’s latest book Gathering My Library explores the physical and emotional dimensions of saying goodbye to a library. The story begins as the author leaves his home in France and moves all his books to Portugal, revealing the profound bonds between reader and books.
“Every book admits the impossibility of fully capturing what life has grasped,” says Manguel, defining libraries as sacred spaces of memory.
Manguel’s interest in Istanbul extends beyond literature. His admiration for Tanpınar, clearly expressed in his earlier book In the Footsteps of Tanpınar: Five Cities, blends memories of staying at Pera Palas with his perception of Istanbul’s layered memory.
According to Manguel, Istanbul is a city where past and present walk the same streets, and time accumulates in layers. This personal connection enriches the literary and emotional depth of his Istanbul events.
Alberto Manguel Event Schedule
Book Signing:
Yapı Kredi Publishing Bookstore, Beyoğlu
June 13, 2025, Friday
Talk:
İstanbul Modern, Landscapes of the Mind Exhibition
June 14, 2025, Saturday
Participants: Alberto Manguel, Ali Kazma
