Maria Barbal (Tremp, 1949) became known with the novel Pedra de tartera (Joaquim Ruyra 1984 and Joan Crexells 1985 awards), a milestone in contemporary Catalan narrative. This book opens a novelistic cycle with the author’s native Pallars as a point of reference, which also includes Mel i metzines (1990) and Cánfora (Critics’
Prize 1992, Critics’ Prize Serra d’Or 1993 and National Literature Prize 1993). Her work as a novelist also includes the relevant titles Escrivia cartes al cel (1996), Carrer Bolívia (1999), Bella edat (2003), País íntim (Prudenci Bertrana Award 2005) and Emma (2008). After her brilliant debut as a narrative author with La mort de Teresa
(1986), she has published the volumes of short stories Ulleres de sol (1994), La pressa del temps (2009) and Cada dia penso en tu (2011). In 2014 he published the novel En la pell de l’altre, about the protagonist’s ability to shine on a lie, and in 2019 A l’amic escocès, the work that closes the so-called Ciclo del Pallars. In 2021 she won the Josep Pla Prize with the novel Tàndem and the Prize of Honor of the Catalan Letters for her literary career.
