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Borderland Experiences

Free Talk by Najat El Hachmi

Najat El Hachmi

A talk that explores what it means to grow up on the border between two cultures.

Najat El Hachmi was born in Morocco and moved with her family to Catalonia, Spain as a child. In her talk, El Hachmi describes the impact of growing up on the border between two cultures and the role that literature played in shaping her identity.

Her first book, Jo tambe soc catalana (I am Catalan too, 2004), El Hachmi deals with the issue of identity, and the growth of her sense of belonging to her new country.

Her novel L'ultim patriarca (The Last Patriarch) tells the story of a conflict between a despotic patriarch and his daughter, who breaks with traditional values of the old country to adapt to the new ones. The English translation of this novel, The Last Patriarch, has recently been published by Serpent's Tail.

This talk will be introduced by Dr Lilit Thwaites, Acting Director Language & Academic Skills Unit and Honorary Associate (Spanish) La Trobe University.

This event is presented by the Consulate General of Spain in Melbourne.