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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Ildefonso FALCONES
(Barcelona, 1958)
A lawyer and writer, he is the author of the bestselling thriller Cathedral of the Sea (2006). Published in over forty different countries, the novel is set in fourteenth century Barcelona during the construction of the Santa Maria del Mar church, in the district of la Ribera. In Los herederos de la tierra (2016), the author captures medieval Barcelona.
Cristina FERNÁNDEZ CUBAS
(Arenys de Mar, 1945)
A writer and journalist, she is author of bestselling fiction Mi hermana Elba (1980), Los altillos de Brumal (1983), El año de Gracia (1985) and La habitación de Nona (2015). She also published, among others, the novel El columpio (1995), and the theatre play Hermanas de sangre (1998).
Gabriel FERRATER
(Reus, 1922 – Sant Cugat del Vallés, 1972)
Poet, linguist, and translator, he is author of some of the major works of poetry of contemporary Catalan literature. In 1967, he won the Lletra d’Or prize for Les dones i els dies (1968), comprising the poetry books Da nuces pueris (1960), Menja't una cama (1962) and Teoria dels cossos (1966). The poem “Cançó d'idiota” evokes memories of his arrival to Barcelona in 1938.
Gustave FLAUBERT
(Rouen, 1821 – Croisset, 1880)
Renowned writer of universal literature, he is author of the famous Madame Bovary (1857) as well as Salammbô (1862) and L'education sentimentale (1869). Flaubert’s short story from his teenage years, Bibliomanie (1836-39) was set in Barcelona.
J. V. FOIX
(Barcelona, 1893 – 1987)
A poet and essayist, he is the author of poetry books such as Gertrudis (1927), KRTU (1932), Sol, i de dol (1947) and Les irreals omegues (1949), among many others. He has received numerous recognitions, including the1961 Lletra d'Or award for his work Onze Nadals i un Cap d'Any (1960), the 1973 Catalan Literature Award of Honour and the 1986 City of Barcelona Award for Cròniques de l'ultrason (1985).
Josep Maria FONOLLOSA
(Barcelona, 1922 – 1991)
Born in the district of Can Tunis, he spent his childhood in the neighbourhood of Poble Sec, and between 1951 and 1961 he lives in Havana, Cuba. His poetry book Ciudad del hombre: Barcelona (1993) is inspired in his home city and was published after his death.
Albert FORNS
(Granollers, 1982)
A writer and journalist, contributes to the newspaper Ara. In 2012, he won the Documenta award for his novel Albert Serra (la novel·la no el cineasta) (2013), and in 2016, the first Llibres Anagrama award of catalan narrative for his novel Jambalaia (2016).
Laura FREIXAS
(Barcelona, 1958)
A writer, translator, and essayist, she graduated in Law and is author of the novels Último domingo en Londres (1997), Entre amigas (1998), Amor o lo que sea (2005) and Los otros son más felices (2011). She is also the author of essays, Literatura y mujeres (2000) and El silencio de las madres (2014), and the autobiography Adolescencia en Barcelona hacia 1970 (2007).
Carlos FUENTES
(Panama City, 1928 - Mexico City, 2012)
Laywer and writer, he is considered one of the major Latin American writers of the twentieth century. He made frequent visits to Barcelona, home to one of his great friends, Gabo, and formed part of the boom of Latin American literature. He published two novels in Barcelona: Our Land (1975) with Seix Barral and The Hydra Head (1978) with Argos.
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Jaume FUSTER
(Barcelona, 1945 – L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, 1998)
L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, 1998). Founder of the Catalan Language Writers’ Association (AELC) in 1977, his work is very diverse and embraces genre ranging from novels (which he was particularly focused on), to playwriting, as well as translation and literary criticism. He is also a film and television scripwriter. In 1993, he won the Ramon Llull novel prize for El jardí de les Palmeres.