The event brought together institutional representatives and the public interested in learning about the history of the medieval princess and the literary legacy of a writer who resided in L'Alfàs del Pi for over four decades. The publication of the work in Spanish fulfills one of the author's great dreams, who passed away in 2010.
Eric Svanberg confessed to feeling deeply moved to present his mother's novel, a work that unites two countries and two places especially dear to her. He explained that Mia Søreide not only wanted to tell the story of a princess but also to portray the woman behind the historical figure, building a narrative based on real events, enriched with imagination and mystery.
The writer's son recalled that the princess's story marked his mother's life, who felt an almost spiritual connection with her. After years of research, the novel, originally published in Norwegian in 2009, awaited a Spanish edition that the author did not live to see fulfilled.
“"She wanted the book to be published in Spanish too. Today, one of Mia's greatest dreams comes true. It's a day of deep emotion. We miss her greatly and, at the same time, feel her very close."
The presentation coincided with the institutional visit of delegations from Covarrubias (Burgos) and Lescar (France), towns twinned with the municipality of L'Alfàs, during a weekend of cultural exchange to strengthen historical ties and friendship between the three populations. Attendees included the mayor of L'Alfàs del Pi, Vicente Arques; the mayor of Lescar, Valérie Revel; the mayor of Covarrubias, Raúl Gredillas; the president of the Princess Kristina Foundation, Manuel Medina; and several council members.
The novel, published this year in Spanish by Editorial Facta, revives the story of Kristina of Norway and brings to the public the historical and cultural links between Norway and Spain. The work had previously been presented the previous weekend in Covarrubias, during the ‘Notas de Noruega’ conferences.
Mia Søreide (Stockholm, 1944) arrived in L'Alfàs del Pi in 1969, where she resided for over four decades. Her interest in Princess Kristina arose from visits to Covarrubias, where the young Norwegian princess's remains rest. After years of research in various countries, she shaped the novel, which narrates Kristina's life and her journey to the Iberian Peninsula in 1257 to marry Infante Felipe of Castile.
The work combines documented historical facts with fiction to bring the reader closer to the princess's human dimension and the political and social context of the era. Søreide aimed to give voice to the woman behind the royal figure. Mia Søreide passed away in Altea in 2010, without having been able to fulfill her wish of publishing the novel in Spanish.
The figure of Kristina of Norway is one of the main historical links between L'Alfàs del Pi and Covarrubias. The Castilian town guards her remains and maintains a close relationship with Norwegian tradition, while L'Alfàs del Pi has a significant community of residents of that nationality. Their twinning, formalized in 2016, along with that of Lescar (France) since 1985, has fostered cultural initiatives to strengthen relationships.
The presentation of ‘Kristina de Noruega. Tragedia de princesa’ highlighted the value of literature and historical memory in bridging cultures and keeping ties between territories alive, recognizing the work of Mia Søreide and her dream of publishing in Spanish a story that united two countries and two places dear to her.
