The Insular Library hosted the presentation of the book "History of Lanzarote" last Tuesday, May 31, a posthumous work by Agustín Pallarés Padilla edited by the Cabildo de Lanzarote.
In it, the researcher and Adoptive Son of the island, who died last February at the age of 93, takes a tour of the history of Lanzarote, from classical antiquity to the present day.
The event, which also brought to an end the program organized by the island corporation to commemorate Canary Islands Day, was attended by the Vice President of the Cabildo, Marcos Bergaz, the General Director of Cultural Heritage of the Government of the Canary Islands and author of the book's prologue, Nona Perera, and relatives of Agustín Pallarés.
"We are saddened that we could not hand him the first copy of this book," said Marcos Bergaz. As the Vice President of the Cabildo explained, it collects "an endless number of facts, curiosities and information" about the history of the island narrated "by the man who knew the most about Lanzarote", highlighting "his humility and simplicity, traits that make his figure even greater".
A unique and peculiar researcher
"The author's high knowledge of many subjects of the history of the islands and his ability to relate them make him a unique and peculiar researcher," said the book's prologuist, Nona Perera, highlighting the "self-taught wisdom" and the "high level of self-reflection" to which Pallarés has always subjected any research of his interest, whether of a toponymic nature, on the settlement of the Canary Islands or other areas.
"We cannot find a better way to materialize our gratitude to Agustín for giving us so much than to honor him at this event in which his book is presented," added Perera in her speech, in which, in addition to "his constancy in historical dedication," she also highlighted the "gentle, affectionate and expressive" character of the author.
Alberto Pallarés, the writer's son, also wanted to pay tribute to his father by praising his figure. "My father's life has been characterized by his passion for culture in general," he said, recounting how he became interested in a multitude of subjects throughout his life and even created his own language, 'Esperlingua', "in his belief that one day a universal language may exist".
"But his passion above all things was everything related to his adopted island, Lanzarote, and the Chinijo Archipelago," he added, stating that his father "was in love with Lanzarote" and that his greatest hope was that all the studies he carried out on biology, volcanology, toponymy, prehistory and history of the island "could be known, always without profit".
And the writer was declared Adoptive Son of Lanzarote in 2016, as "an indisputable reference in the work of compiling, investigating and arguing the toponymy of Lanzarote and its islets, continuously, tirelessly and seriously from the 60s of the last century to the present day".
In addition, he received the Silver Medal of the Government of the Canary Islands as "Important for Tourism" in 1994, was appointed a full academic by the Academy of Sciences and Engineering of Lanzarote and received the title Memorialist 2015 by the Board of Official Chroniclers of the Canary Islands as "researcher, chronicler and teacher of our history".
"History of Lanzarote" as a didactic tool
Alberto Pallarés also pointed out that this latest publication on the history of Lanzarote that sees the light posthumously "can be an interesting didactic tool for teachers and students on the island".
The invasions and pirate attacks, the effects of volcanic eruptions and locust plagues are some of the highlights of the history of Lanzarote that Agustín Pallarés Padilla narrates in this book, which also includes linguistic and heritage issues of the island addressed from his Renaissance spirit and his desire for knowledge and research.
The book "Histories of Lanzarote" that was presented this Tuesday adds to others published throughout his life such as "Dictionary of toponyms of Lanzarote", "The island of Alegranza", "Prehistory of Lanzarote" and "Writings and talks". In addition, as was stated during the event held at the Insular Library, Agustín Pallarés left another four books written, which are pending publication.
