Without omitting the rigor of scientific research, José de León Hernández, known as Pepe el uruguayo, presented his book last Saturday in Yaiza The culture of the volcano. How Timanfaya changed the history of Lanzarote, focusing his story on the people: “they are the ones who know the territory better than us archaeologists and they are the ones who have lived and suffered closely the consequences of the volcanic eruptions”.
Pepe el uruguayo admits that after going to La Palma during the volcanic eruption of 2021, and seeing such desolation, “I would change my doctoral thesis”, and maintains that “the reality is different when I went there because the pain gives a different perspective on the culture of the volcano”.
Product of a meticulous investigation of more than ten years, the book by Pepe el uruguayo narrates in a simple and fascinating way, as he did in person before the public gathered at the Casa de la Cultura Benito Pérez Armas, how the people of Lanzarote faced their terrible reality after the volcanic eruptions of 1730 to 1736.
“The volcano buries a quarter of Lanzarote, the most productive area of the Island, that gives an idea of the dimension of the event and its impact on the territory and on the people who lived in the most affected area. The documents that account, for example, of how people saved their grains, are incredible”.
The author cited in great detail the internal exodus of inhabitants of Lanzarote to safer places and the emigration to Fuerteventura forced by the harshness of the volcano, “where 35 percent of the children of La Oliva were from families who fled Lanzarote”. The book, which is already on the street with the seal of Ediciones Remotas, contains maps and illustrations that help to understand its content.
The Yaiza City Council publicly thanks Pepe el uruguayo for his visit and "is convinced that Saturday at noon is an attractive day to hold literary meetings".
