Manuel Vilas won Nadal 2023 with a novel about death and mourning

Hence the old normality to announce the new winners: Vilas, ‘no need to introduce the novel.We‘. and related Joseph Pla, The other award in Catalan, also given at the Three Kings Day premiere, went to its 55th call for the novel. Gemma Ventura FarreAlthough La llei de l’hivern is her first novel, she is the cultural correspondent of the digital magazine ‘Catorze’, where she took her first narrative steps here. Participants include various authors associated with Planeta and last year’s issue winner Inés Martín Rodrigo, as well as Ada Colau, mayor of Barcelona; Minister of Culture Natàlia Garriga, First Deputy Mayor Jaume Collboni and Minister of Culture Jordi Martí.

handle the absence

The theme of death and loss, how mourning is managed, may be the common denominator of both novels. In the case of Vilas, who presents her novel under the pseudonym Emily Watson and with the title ‘La enamora’, the narrative is about Irene, a woman of our time who is faced with the death of her husband, whom she thought was married. In the world.” da del viento’, the hero’s way of refusing to turn the page after this loss While on a cruise along the Mediterranean coast of Spain is the almond of the story. His is an unconventional way of dealing with absences based on associations and memories to reconstruct something akin to a life with the deceased.

Having a long career as a poet as well as a narrator, Vilas’ fear, which he confessed shortly after turning 60 last summer, and embodied in the publication of his poetic anthology ‘Una sola vida’, now seems to be completely under control. , at least in terms of the craft of writing. This book was preceded by two other books, “Rome,” in which Barbastro continued to explore the confessional literature that made him so well known and recognized. ‘kisses’, The story that takes place in the first months of the prison and takes place in the realm of pure fiction like ‘We’. like in ‘kisses’ an unusual love storyNadal’s winning work explores the realm of emotions and, at the same time, on this occasion, more radically, the exploration of loneliness. While receiving the award, Vilas said, “This award is a dream come true, an award established by authors such as Carmen Laforet or Martin Gaite, Sanchez Ferlosio, Miguel Delibes, who are part of the literature of this country, it is beautiful.” reward satisfied.

Vilas’ connection with Nadal has other ramifications. In 2020, a few days after the pandemic was officially declared, his partner writes Ana Merino also won this award, therefore, the rare case occurs when both members of the couple acquire it. Something distancing and witty is within the reach of only Penélope Cruz and Javier Bardem regarding the Oscars.

A lyrical Josep Pla

Gemma Ventura thanks to ‘The law of winter’ In her articles in the magazine “Catorze”, under the title “Quan obri els ulls apareixerà” and under the pseudonym Laura Vallclara, she also developed a text full of evocative lyricism that her readers were already accustomed to. in-depth interview. In this novel, as in Vilas’s, The theme of death and loss is central to the plot. presenting a girl devoted to taking care of her grandfather In an invented rural setting while freeing your memory and imagination to create a story. The novel explores exactly how those who are no longer with us can stay with us, thanks to these stories that arise from our need for comfort.

A primary school and music teacher on Terrassa, an unrepentant traveler, Ventura, now in her thirties, didn’t consider journalism until she met writer Eva Piquer, founder of “Catorze” on a “stage” in Liverpool, and you encouraged her to join your magazine.

Nadal, like Pla, this year too increased its donation from 6,000 to 10,000 euros. Although in this case it is a winning novel, the award rules are open to all genres, including nonfiction examples such as memoirs, newspapers or journalistic reports.