“Lancelot 28°-7” by Agustín Espinosa

Agustín Espinosa (1897-1939) was a very active member of the avant-garde (Surrealism) in the Canary Islands during the late 20’s and all 30’s. At the time, he was well known for two major works, “Lancelot 28°-7” (1928), and “Crimen” (1934). Sadly he has been forgotten and nowadays his name doesn’t ring a bell to many people. But his work is, without a shadow of doubt, one of the best representations of the Surrealism in the Canary Islands. Agustín Espinosa played with images in a magical way, giving them new complete meanings. “Lancelot 28°-7” is an excellent example of this.

This book doesn’t have a story line, because it doesn’t tell a story in itself. It is prose poetry, filled with powerful images. The target is to rediscover Lanzarote, one of the Canary Islands. What I mean is that Agustín Espinosa tries to redefine this island through the reconceptualization of symbols that characterize this insular space. Examples are the palm trees or the wind. By doing so, Espinosa shapes a Canary identity that differs from the rest of Spain. Lanzarote is Africa… the Canary Islands are Africa, but place in a global and modern context. The Canary Islands culture feeds from the world, and it is modern. An example is Puerto de Naos:

“Tú- hombre del siglo XIX; cazador de lo pintoresco-: esquiva puertos de esta clase. Este Puerto no se parece ya a tus puertos románticos. Aquí todo está ordenado. Clasifiado. Los barcos parecen más papeletas de un fichero que aventureros del océano.” (91)

Every Canarian should read this book, because gives a perspective on our own identities. It pushes us to think of ourselves in a healthy way, as Canarians, Spaniards, Europeans, Africans, and citizens of the World. It is a shame that this book is not read in the schools at the islands. I hope that some day that will change, and High Schools will offer a class in Canary culture.