Josep Maria Espinàs

With a degree in Law, he turned to writing full-time after publishing several novels. He was also one of the driving forces behind the Nova Cançó movement, for which he wrote or translated into Catalan the words of many songs. A versatile writer, he has published non-fictional works such as Inventari de Jubilacions (Inventory of Retirements), Temps afegit (Extra Time), Relacions particulars (Particular Relations), while his most recent publication, Una vida articulada (An Articulated Life), is a work in diary form which brings together ideas and personal observations based on his published articles. One of his outstanding works is El teu nom és Olga (Your Name is Olga) which, dedicated to his daughter with Down’s Syndrome, first appeared in 1987. An international success, the book was translated into ten languages as well as being adapted for radio and broadcast by the BBC in London. He has received major literary awards including the Sant Jordi Prize and the Catalan Letters Prize of Honour. He is also a member of the Royal Academy of Belles Lettres of Barcelona.