IBIZA PUBLISHERS: Barbary Press

The Barbary Press publishing house has become known in the Pitiusas Islands mainly for its work with foreign authors, but ibicents of adoption. Thus, the label has given an original boost to local culture, fusing native traditions with the perspective of writers from other places.

This interview focuses on his editor, Martin Davies. The historian, librarian, Liverpool-born English teacher and researcher says he bases his work on the concept of "teaching people through aesthetics".

INTERVIEW WITH JOSÉ M: How did you get into the world of publishing??

Matin Davies: Thanks to Philip Derville, with the photo book 'Eivissa Ibiza: a hundred years of light and shadow'. He was looking for the images and I accompanied him in the texts. My philosophy is to combine the image and the word in a way that adds more than individually.

P: How old is the publisher??

MD: 23. I founded it with Derville. He already had a publishing house called Ediciones El Faro. He had taken a series of old photos and was looking for more material for another. ‘Eivissa Ibiza: a hundred years of light and shadow’ It was the first book from his publisher, that we started in 1999. en 2005 I founded my brand, Barbary Press. So it started with ‘Eivissa Ibiza: the island of yesteryear.

P: Does the publisher publish only in the Pitiusas??

MD: Yes.

P: How many books has Barbary Press published??

MD: Diez.

P: with how many authors?

MD: In the books there are quotes from various, but in general there is only one for each volume. In 'The road to San Vicente’ there are six additional texts, so there are seven authors. I collaborated in 'La quissoneta Pepeta’ doing the text and I was in 'Our birds’ writing and drawing.

P: What have been the best-selling books??

MD: ‘Eivissa Ibiza: a hundred years of light and shadow'. Considering the different languages, 'Ibiza and Formentera also sold a lot: The historical legacy’ and 'The road to San Vicente'.

P: What is the language of publication?

MD: Catalan, spanish and english. But the introductions of the books 'Eivissa · Ibiza’ they are also in italian, german and french. ‘The road to San Vicente’ it's in german and i'm about to get it out in french.

P: What has been your experience with grants??

MD: I have received a lot of help from the town halls and the Abel Matutes Foundation. The Consell has not been the best sponsor. When I was making the second photo book, I tried very hard to get your support., but he didn't give it to me. As it was a highly sought after post, I think it was a political issue because the previous government supported the first photo book, so the next one didn't want to help someone connected to the opposition. It seems somewhat ridiculous to me. I am not from any party.

P: What relationship do you have with digitization??

MD: Very bad. The only digitized book is the last, 'island of pines', what's on kindle. the author himself, Ben Dunwell, took care.

P: Do you read Ibiza and Formentera??

MD: Yes, my books are very well accepted not only among locals, but among the foreigners here.

P: What are the future prospects?

MD: I have three or four things going. The third edition of ‘Ibiza and Formentera: the historical legacy’, that was delayed by the covid and by other projects. Another plan that has been long overdue is a travelogue by an Irishman who came to Ibiza in 1932 and a year passed. These two things have to come out next year because the collaborators are impatient.

his unwavering faith in God and the numerous trips that brought him into contact with diverse cultures and to settle in Santa Eulària

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