Queen Letizia of Spain is known for her love of culture and the arts, but one of her greatest pleasures in life is reading.
With an exquisite and eclectic literary taste, the monarch enjoys a wide range of works, from literary classics to philosophy, feminism, and poetry.
Her passion for books has been passed on to her daughters, Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofia, creating a home where reading is celebrated and valued.
Who are Queen Letizia’s favorite writers?
Queen Letizia is a tireless reader and shows curiosity for all authors and genres.
Among her favorites are Israeli historian Yuval Noah Harari, Uruguayan Cristina Peri Rossi, and Mallorcan Agustín Fernández Mallo.
However, his love of literature is not limited to contemporary authors but also extends to classics such as Robert Walser, Franz Kafka, Charles Baudelaire, and Pier Paolo Pasolini.
One of the early clues to her literary tastes was revealed on the day of her marriage proposal in 2003, when she presented her then-groom, Prince Felipe, with an 1850 edition of Mariano José de Larra’s ‘El doncel de don Enrique el Doliente’ (The Maid of Don Enrique the Sorrowful).
This gesture reflected her appreciation for classic Spanish authors.
What books does Queen Letizia like to read?
In addition to literature, Queen Letizia also enjoys philosophy, devouring works by thinkers such as Nietzsche, Kierkegaard, and the Slovenian Slavoj Žižek.
Poetry also holds a special place in his heart, and he has expressed his admiration for the work of Juan Ramón Jiménez.
However, her love of reading is not limited to traditional authors and genres.
Queen Letizia has also shown her interest in fantasy literature, enjoying works such as J.R.R. Tolkien’s ‘The Lord of the Rings’.
During a youth literature awards ceremony, she expressed her gratitude for having had the opportunity to immerse herself in the world created by Tolkien in her early days as a reader.
She passed on her passion to her daughters
In addition to her own enjoyment of reading, Queen Letizia has worked hard to pass on this passion to her daughters, Leonor and Sofia.
During the pandemic confinement, the royal family decided to participate in a joint reading of ‘El Quijote’, a tribute to culture, books, and the promotion of reading.
In a world increasingly dominated by technology, Queen Letizia has managed to keep the love of books alive in her home, thus encouraging the intellectual and cultural development of her daughters.
Her wide and varied literary taste demonstrates her intellectual restlessness and her desire to explore different perspectives and forms of expression.