Every year, on April 23, we celebrate a double event that invites us to reflect on the power of the word and its ability to transcend borders: the world book day and the Spanish language day at the United Nations. For those of us who work in the linguistic field, it is a date full of symbolism, which highlights not only literary creation, but also the essential role of translation in the dissemination of knowledge and culture.
A day with history and legend
Why April 23? Although it is commonly said that this date was chosen because two giants of universal literature died, Miguel de Cervantes and William Shakespeare, the reality is more complex. Cervantes died on April 22, 1616, but was buried on the 23rd. Shakespeare died that same day, but according to the Julian calendar, still valid in Elizabethan England, which is equivalent to May 3 in the Gregorian calendar. Added to them is another great author: Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, who also died on April 23.
This coincidence, although with historical nuances, inspired UNESCO in 1995 to declare April 23 as World Book and Copyright Day. Since then, it has been consolidated as a day of tribute to authors, to reading and the importance of universal access to literature.
The date also coincides with the birth or death of other relevant figures of the letters, such as Teresa de la Parra, , Maurice Druon, , Haldor K. Laxness, , Vladimir Nabokov, , Josep Pla, , Manuel Mejia Vallejo or William Wordsworth, which reinforces its value as a symbolic day of world literature.
Rio de Janeiro, world capital of the book 2025
A lesser-known but equally significant tradition is the Annual designation of a World Book Capital by UNESCO. This recognition lies in a city that stands out for its commitment to promoting reading, supporting the publishing industry and equitable access to books.
For the year 2025, the chosen city has been Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), for its public policies aimed at promoting reading in vulnerable communities, strengthening libraries and celebrating cultural diversity through literature. This initiative underlines that books are not only cultural heritage, but also tools for social and educational development.
Spanish in the world: a living language
In addition to Book Day, April 23 is celebrated on Spanish language day at the United Nations, one of the six official languages of the international organization. This commemoration pays tribute to Miguel de Cervantes and, by extension, to the global impact of the Spanish language.
with more than 500 million native speakers, Spanish is the second most spoken mother tongue in the world and occupies a strategic position in diplomacy, economics, science and culture. In literature, its influence is unquestionable: from Don Quixote Even the authors of the Latin American “boom”, such as the recently deceased Mario Vargas Llosa, passing through contemporary voices such as Isabel Allende or Javier Marías, has given rise to works that have enriched the international literary scene.
Translate to multiply readings
If something has made it possible for the works written in Spanish to reach far corners of the planet, it is, without a doubt, the translation. Thanks to this fundamental work, the books transcend their original language and reach new audiences, opening doors to intercultural understanding and exchange of ideas.
In Spain, the volume of translated books is remarkable. According to data from STATISTA, only in 2023 were they translated almost 15,000 titles, a figure that reflects the dynamism of the publishing sector. In turn, many works originally written in Spanish have become international references thanks to their translation into dozens of languages.
The most translated works of Spanish are:
- Don Quijote de la Mancha, of Miguel de Cervantes, by far from the other
- One hundred years of loneliness and love in the time of cholera, of Gabriel Garcia Marquez
- road, of Josemaria Escriva de Balaguer
- manual oracle and art of prudence, of Baltasar Gracian
This information, collected by the translation map of the Cervantes Institute, demonstrates how translation contributes to consolidating written literature in Spanish as an essential part of global literary heritage. If you are curious, you can see the most translated works by language.
Translation: more than words
At Nuadda we understand that translating a book, an article or any content is not a mechanical process. Literary translation, in particular, involves capturing the essence of the style, the narrative rhythm, the cultural nuances and the emotions that the author transmits. It is a task that requires sensitivity, linguistic training and knowledge of the context of both languages.
Each correctly translated word opens a door. It allows a story written in Bogotá to move a reader in Helsinki, or a poem born in Granada inspires someone in Cairo. That is the magic of language and translation.
Read, share, connect
Celebrating Book Day and Spanish Language Day is also recognizing the value of those who make it possible for books to be read in all languages: authors, translators, editors, correctors and readers. All of them are part of the same chain that nourishes thought, creativity and dialogue.
From NUADDA We want to pay tribute to the Spanish language and the book as a universal vehicle of knowledge. And we do it by remembering that Without translation there is no universal literature. The translation allows words to travel, texts become bridges, and cultures dialogue with each other.
Because in the end, reading is also translating: a way of understanding what is foreign, of empathizing with what is different and of enriching our gaze on the world.
