Born in Barcelona in 1953, the prolific Miquel de Palol has written more than 60 books. The poet, novelist, and essayist has won numerous prizes, including the 1982 Carles Riba poetry prize and the 1984 Serra d'Or for El porxo de les mirades. His distopic novel El jardí dels set crepuscles (Garden of the Seven Twilights) won numerous prizes, including the 1989 Joan Crexells, the 1990 Serra d'Or, the National Critique Prize in 1990, and the National Catalan Literature prize in 1990. The entire trilogy was published in French by Editions Zulma in 2015 and was a finalist for the 2017 Prix des libraires du Québec.
Palol has been lauded and prized for his subsequent works of philosophy-imbued fantasy: Ígur Neblí (1994), El Legislaor (1997), El quincorn (1998), Grafomàquia (1993), and Contes per a vells adolescents (Stories for Old Teenagers, 1997).
Miquel de Palol's works are palpably architectural, with the maze-like structures of the Decameron or the Canterbury Tales. Palol has also written widely on the subject of Catalan culture in the age of globalization. In the midst of Catalonia's campaign for independence, Palol will analyze the role of culture and intellectuals in the forging of an independent Catalan republic.
On September 25, the FIL will host a chat on the Catalan literary panorama at the University of Montreal, whose Catalan program will celebrate its 10th anniversary this year.