This presentation was given by Beatriz Sznaider on March 22, 2026, at the presentation of The Empty Chair. It places the book within its historical context and reflects on its meaning through a personal and thoughtful lens.

I was asked to speak with you about the different ways emigration and writing intersect in my life, and as I reflected on what to say, the first thought that came to mind was that before becoming an immigrant, writing as a form of expression had never crossed my mind. However, a seed was planted early on by…