Please join us at the Iowa City Public Library to celebrate the release of Ana Merino's new collection Illustrating Spain in the US, a dazzling combination of comics and essays that sheds light on the rich but often overlooked contributions of Spanish immigrants to the political, cultural, and scientific history of the US, translated by Marta González-Cutre and commissioned by Spain Arts and Culture.

Diplomat Eduardo Garrigues and cartoonist Rayco Pulido resurrect the historical figure of Bernardo de Gálvez, who played a crucial role in the Revolutionary War. Professor James Fernández, Filmmaker Luis Argeo and artists Ana Penyas and Seisdedos bring to life the rollicking immigrant enclave of Tampa, once known as the "Cigar Capital of the World." Professor Estrella de Diego and cartoonist Carla Berrocal shed light on the Spanish actors, screenwriters and musicians who broke into Hollywood and made their mark on American cinema. Professor María Dolores Jiménez-Blanco and cartoonist Max lead readers through the labyrinthine history of Spanish art collecting in the US, and the influence of Spanish art on popular American art movements. And much more! 

Ana Merino (b. Madrid) is an award-winning writer and a Professor of Spanish Creative Writing and Cultural Studies at the University of Iowa. She has written extensive criticism on comics and graphic novels, has authored two academic books and a monograph on Chris Ware and has curated five comic book exhibitions. She was a member of the ICAF (International Comic Arts Forum) Executive Committee from 2001–2011 and a Directors Board founder member at The Center for Cartoon Studies from 2004–2014. She currently lives in Iowa.
 

Marta González-Cutre is a freelance translator, proofreader, and professor of English based in the Canary Islands. She has a Masters in International Business Management from the Center of Economic and Commercial Studies.