Espriu, Salvador, 1913-1985
(Updated 05/01/2021)
Salvador Espriu i Castelló (Santa Coloma de Farners, 1913 - Barcelona, 1985). Poet, playwright and novelist. He studied Law and Ancient History at the University of Barcelona. The Civil War cut short his studies in Classical Languages. For some years he worked as a lawyer at a Notary's office, although he never stopped writing. Even in his early work, the author can be seen to be moving away from Noucentist trends. Classical and Biblical mythology, about which Espriu was profoundly knowledgeable, influenced his work in which recurring themes such as death and the future of the country are apparent. He maintained close ties with the town of his parents, Arenys de Mar, which was referred to as Sinera in this writings and is very present in his poetry.
Among his numerous literary pieces include, Laia (1932), Ariadna al laberint grotesc (1935), Cementiri de Sinera (1946), Primera història d’Esther (1948), La pell de brau (1960), Ronda de mort a Sinera (1966), Una altra Fedra, si us plau (1978) and Les roques i el mar, el blau (1981).
He received numerous awards and distinctions, among which include, the Montaigne Prize (1971), the Premi d’Honor de les Lletres Catalanes (1972), the Ignasi Iglésias Prize (1978) for Primera història d’Esther, the Medalla d’Or from the Generalitat of Catalonia (1980) and he was made an honorary doctor (Doctor Honoris Causa) by the Universities of Toulouse and Barcelona. He was a candidate for the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1971 and 1983. In 1982, he rejected the Gran Cruz de Alfonso X el Sabio (Great Cross of Alfonso X the Wise). His work has been translated into numerous languages.
Who is who (Institució de les Lletres Catalanes)
Centre Salvador Espriu in Arenys de Mar
Salvador Espriu collection in the Biblioteca P. Fidel Fita (P. Fidel Fita Library) in Arenys de Mar
