Writers and Barcelona
Barcelona has been and keeps being a perfect scene for literary works, a source of inspiration for writers who were born here and a welcoming place for writers from around the world who have described it in their books.
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Enrique BADOSA
(Barcelona, 1927)
Graduated in Philology and Literature from the University of Barcelona, he is a poet, translator, essayist and literary critic. His poetry book Marco Aurelio 14 (1998), is named after the street in Barcelona where he lived.
Borja BAGUNYÀ
(Barcelona, 1982)
He is a writer, a doctor in Theory of Literature and Comparative Literature, a lecturer on the degree in Literary Studies at the University of Barcelona, and co-founder and teacher at the Bloom literature school in Barcelona. In 2006, he won the Mercè Rodoreda award for stories and writing for his work Defensa pròpia (2007), and he is also author of the collection of strories Apunts per al retrat d'una ciutat (2004) and Plantes d'interior (2011).
Anna BALLBONA
(Montmeló, 1980)
Journalist and writer, she collaborates with media such as El Punt Avui or the magazine El Temps. She's the author of the collections of poems La mare que et renyava era un robot (2012, Premi Amadeu Oller a poetes joves) and Conill de gàbia (2012). With her first novel, Joyce i les gallines (2016), she was finalist of the Llibres Anagrama novel prize.
Maria BARBAL
(Tremp, 1949)
Novelist, author of Stone in a Landslide, set in the Pallars area where she grew up. In 1964 she moved to Barcelona, where the action from some of her subsequent novels unfolds, such asCarrer Bolívia (1999), Bella edat (2003), País íntim (2005) and Emma (2008).
Carlos BARRAL
(Barcelona, 1928 – 1989)
A poet, political activist, and founder of Seix Barral publishing house and Barral Editores. Author of the works of poetry Metropolitano (1957), Informe personal sobre el alba y acerca de algunas auroras particulares (1970) and Usuras y figuraciones (1973), his books of memoirs –Años de penitencia (1975), Los años sin excusa (1978) and Cuando las horas veloces (1988)– all of which are a valuable testament to twentieth century Barcelona.
George BATAILLE
(Billom, 1897 – Paris, 1962)
French writer and philosopher. His work Le bleu du ciel (1957) is partially set in Barcelona. The author described the events of October 1934 during the revolutionary general strike.
Lluís-Anton BAULENAS
(Barcelona, 1958)
A writer, translator and playwright, he is author of several novels set in the city such as, La felicitat (2001), which tells the story about the construction of Via Laietana, and Quan arribi el pirata i se m'emporti (2013). In his work Amor d'idiota (2003) Baulenas takes the Barcelona post-olympic period as his setting. Among others, he won the 2005 Ramon Llull prize for his work Per un sac d'ossos (2005) and the 2008 Sant Jordi Award for his novel El nas de Mussolini (2009).
Sergi BELBEL
(Terrassa, 1963)
Graduated in Roman and French Philology from the Autonomous University of Barcelona, he is an author, director and theatre interpreter. Founder of the Theatre Hall at the Autonomous University of Barcelona, and professor of Theatre Studies at the Barcelona Theatre School, he is artistic director at the Teatre Nacional de Catalunya and one of the Catalan playwrights with the greatest international standing. In 1994, he won the Serra d’Or Critics Award for his work Després de la pluja (1993), and in 2003, the City of Barcelona teatre Award for directing the work Dissabte, diumenge i dilluns.
Jaume BENAVENTE
(Barcelona, 1958)
Graduated in Fine Arts, he is a writer, novelist, poet, and playwright. Part of the action from his crime novel Lluny d'aquí (2013) is set in the district of Horta.
Josep Maria BENET I JORNET
(Barcelona, 1940)
A playwright and scriptwriter, he is author of an extensive and renowned theatre production. He is also known as the creator and scriptwriter for several successful series produced by Televisió de Catalunya such as Poble Nou, (1993-94), Rosa (1995-1996), Nissaga de Poder (1996-1998), Laberint d'ombres (1998-2000), El cor de la ciutat (2000-2009) and Ventdelplà (2005-2010). Winner of numerous awards including the critics Serra d’Or for theatre in the years 986 (for El manuscrit d'Alí Bei), 1990 (for Desig) and 1994 (for E.R), and in 2013 he was awarded the Catalan Literature Award of Honour.