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In the cave of Cervantes

Tuesday evening, the National Library of Hamma moved to the cave where Miguel de Cervantes had once taken refuge! The place faces the Garden of Test, an ageless bush square adjacent to the building, recent and austere, which houses the National Library of Algeria. And further on, to the foaming sea by which Don Quixote's father arrived in chains, in the year of grace 1575. The Spanish poet was captured on the high seas, while heading for his country, and imprisoned by Algerian pirates. He was released after five years in prison, and four attempts failed escape, thanks to a ransom (five hundred gold crowns) reunited by his family. One of the episodes in which the poet tried to flee saw him occupy for several months this cave, which an accomplice dug for him, before being denounced and returned to captivity. It is in this disenchanted past of the poet that the institutional eruption took place, after so many years of deliberate forgetfulness. On the small courtyard surrounding the cave, the National Library - which intends to translate and publish a poetry collection and a play of the poet - organized a poetic evening. An evening lacking flavor and color, which has given to listen to all-out declamatory vervors, ranging from the pastiche of Mahmoud Darwich to the patriotic prose to the glory of Algeria. Also on the program was a theatrical performance given by young Inad students. As a reminder, the first tribute paid to Miguel de Cervantes at this location dates back to 1887, when a memorial plaque was placed, the last in 1926 when a square was built and a pyramid was erected on which were reproduced Spanish arms. Before the intervention of the APC of Belouizded, these last years saw this place turn into a benchmark where came to take refuge from the eyes of the rascals adepts of the excess, as there are so much in its variegated districts of the capital.