Languages, Literature and Mass Communication department hosts talk by author of La Casa del Francés
Antonio Ceballos, author of the novel La Casa del Francés, traveled from Córdoba, Spain, to host an interactive, multicultural talk at CMU on April 2, at the invitation of CMU’s Spanish program in the Languages, Literature and Mass Communication department.
Ceballos is a professor of history and international relations at the University of Córdoba and teaches exchange students from several American universities, including CMU.
His debut novel, La Casa del Francés, is set in historically accurate 19th-century Córdoba, Ceballos’ hometown, and follows the intertwining stories of two contrasting families over nearly five decades. The interwoven narratives explore universal themes shared across generations, cultures and social classes, including love, family and resilience.
The well-attended talk, titled La Casa del Francés: Our Shared Lived Experiences, was delivered in Spanish and facilitated by CMU Spanish Professor Emeritus Tom Acker. English interpretation was provided by CMU Spanish Professor Laura Muñoz, PhD.
“To see former students here, it means that something touched your hearts and you’ve taken the time to come and see me. That means a lot,” Ceballos said when spotting CMU exchange students in the audience whom he taught in Spain.
During the hour-long presentation, Ceballos discussed the novel’s themes, character development and his writing process during the early pandemic. He revealed that many character traits and settings were drawn from people and places in his own life. He shared historical photographs that influenced the novel’s time period, including an image of his great-grandparents that served as inspiration for the book’s cover art.
The central theme of the novel is that shared human experiences bridge generational and cultural divides.
“If I wanted to send any message in the book, it is that the differences that theoretically separate us are imposed. Although there are differences, we have more in common than you might imagine. What connects us is humanity,” Ceballos said during the talk. “Humans have always looked for the same things. We want to create art, come together and share space with what we love. Problems are always there, but what makes us survive is staying connected.”
Ceballos’ talk was one of the best-attended events hosted by the Spanish program this year, according to Muñoz.
“It's been a while since we had an author who writes in Spanish come present to our students, which is great,” she said. “More than anything, it sparks people’s curiosity to see what else is happening in the literary world outside of English. I hope it encourages them to branch out in their reading.”
“Not only did Antonio feel super welcomed by the community, we were really excited to see the turnout,” Muñoz said. “It’s really encouraging to see all the interest from the community. The Spanish program in general is looking to expand and bring more people from different places, so this was a good step in that direction.”