Trotalibros Celebrates 5 Years with 52 Titles and Sold-Out Edition

Jan Arimany marked the fifth anniversary of his publishing house Trotalibros yesterday with a gathering at the company's headquarters, reflecting on half a decade that has produced 52 titles since its launch amid the pandemic.

The venture began on 20 January 2021 with *La guardia*, the sole novel by Greek poet Nikos Kavadías. A special limited edition of 1,500 copies of the book sold out rapidly to commemorate the milestone. Arimany, once a lawyer, left his career to study publishing in London, driven by a passion to revive overlooked literary gems through high-quality hardcover editions, strong translations, and editor's notes.

Culture Minister Mònica Bonell praised him as a "young cultural entrepreneur" and highlighted the ministry's collaboration with Trotalibros, which publishes in both Catalan and Spanish to promote Andorran identity and language. She recalled an early event at the Madrid Book Fair where crowds gathered for Arimany, whom local figure Oliver Vergés called "our ambassador."

The event drew a full house from Andorra's cultural scene despite competing Thursday commitments. Arimany expressed overwhelming gratitude for the turnout, likening books to his "perpetual journey," a "magic mirror," and a refuge from reality—echoing Shakespeare's Prospero in *The Tempest*. He quoted Italian writer Elsa Morante's disdain for mapped-out news and her craving for legend beyond the Pillars of Hercules.

Arimany admitted early fears of failure with just a desk and computer but embraced the risk for a "romantic flop." Success came through a dedicated team and adventurous contributors, including poets David Castillo and David Caño, who recovered forgotten voices from 1970s and 1980s Barcelona counterculture. Their efforts yielded titles like *Hem d’anar a l’Índia* by Joan Vinuesa Baliu, *Diario del marionetista Pepe Otal* by Pep Gómez, *Cuc sonat* by Xavi Cot, and *Camilo -és perillós abocar-se-* by Antonio Orihuela and Isaías Griñolo.

Bestsellers include James Hilton's *Adiós, señor Chips* with over 7,000 copies sold across five editions, followed by Elizabeth von Arnim's *Vera* and *Expiación*. Looking ahead, Trotalibros plans *Escenarios* by Toni Sala, a stark portrait of a degraded society, with a potential sequel to Thomas Wolfe's debut novel *La mirada del ángel* still under consideration.

The idea for the anniversary event originated from a conversation with David Gálvez in Mexico, underscoring Arimany's commitment to hosting it where "the books I publish are cooked up."