Manolito Gafotas has been traveling around the world for three decades. When it came to crossing borders, the editions in some markets adapted details from the universe of the illustrious resident of Carabanchel Alto, who became an icon of Spanish children’s and youth literature in the saga written by Elvira Lindo and illustrated by Emilio Urberuaga.
In the United States, the character begins his adventures at the age of 10, instead of eight. Along the way, the necks were left behind, there is no mention of syringes or AIDS, and Manolito’s grandfather’s red wine was changed to Coca-Cola. These are some of the curiosities of the saga’s trajectory in these first three decades that Tomasso Koch collects in a report in EL PAÍS. “One of the two translators of the US edition went so far as to publish a study, somewhere between critical and ironic, with all the problems that Manolito’s lack of political correctness and eschatology had meant for it to be published in the country,” the journalist writes.
In China, Susana could not be nicknamed “Dirty-Panties.” In the French edition, the protagonist could not sleep with his grandfather. And the report recalls Elvira Lindo’s refusal when an Iranian publisher wanted to buy the rights and asked to dispense with the coming out of a character in one of the books of the saga. Lindo, Koch says, sent him a response that said something like, “Go away, mullet.”
The character’s first book was published in 1994 but Manolito had been born before in Elvira Lindo’s stories on the radio. And he also returns to the airwaves on this anniversary: he will be the protagonist of SER’s traditional Christmas story. The character’s first adventure since Best Manolo will close the saga in 2012.
Here you can read the full report on their anniversary and the publication of a tribute book: Manolito Gafotas celebrates 30 years full of success, millions of readers and no “cabbage rolls”.