El Mediterráneo como espacio de reflexión intercultural en Cuentos de las dos orillas de Concha López Sarasúa
The Mediterranean as a Space for Intercultural Reflection in Tales of the Two Shores by Concha López Sarasúa

Summary/Abstract: This article analyzes Tales of the Two Shores, the posthumous work by Concha LópezSarasúa (2024), highlighting the Mediterranean as an intercultural meeting point between Spain and Morocco. The omnipresence of the Mare Nostrum as the axis around which these stories, featuring mythical characters and fantastic marine animals,are articulated, reflects the author’s unconditional commitment—who spent two decades of life experience in Morocco—to defend the values of intercultural understanding on the shores of the Mediterranean. Her in-depth knowledge of Morocco’s sociocultural reality allowed Alicante-born author Concha López Sarasúato build authentic bridges of dialogue between East and West, not from the premises of Spanish Arabism, but from a personal and realistic perspective, which places her work within the realm of feminine Orientalist narrative. The childlike nature of these stories and their bilingual Spanish-Arabic edition make them a fruitful pedagogical resource for promoting intercultural dialogue and understanding of others, thus breaking down prejudices among young readers and fostering intercultural communication. Considering the author’s literary career, it’s only natural that these stories are a narrative extension of her novels set in Morocco, such as The Call of the Muezzin (1988); In the Land of Meriem (1998); and What Were You Looking for in Marrakech? (2001), among others.

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