Josep Piera dies, the writer and poet who knew how to transmit the passion for life and literature

BarcelonaThe Valencian poet, narrator, essayist, columnist, and translator, Josep Piera (Beniopa, 1947), has died at the age of 78. He considered himself primarily a poet, but he left a handful of memorable prose books, among which are El cingle verd (Destino, 1982) – for which he won the Josep Pla prize–, Estiu grec (Destino, 1985), and Ací s'acaba tot (Edicions 62, 1993), which the young publisher Cap de Brot reissued in a corrected and expanded version. In 2023, he received the 55th Premi d'Honor de les Lletres Catalanes (Honorary Prize for Catalan Literature), awarded by Òmnium Cultural. At that time, he expressed his astonishment at receiving the award and how he understood literature: "I find this writing in the name of everyone to be extraordinarily presumptuous. One writes about what one knows, what one feels, and about oneself. But this must become shareable, symbolic. Otherwise, what the hell can interest others? This is where literature comes in, and I am an animal of words," he stated.

Piera had been in poor health for some time. A little over a year ago, in an interview with ARA, he explained that he was still polishing his memoirs and recalled the emotion of receiving the Honorary Prize. "I still remember the evening I received the award at the Palau. Everyone was applauding me and I was raising my arms to give thanks. I was amazed and I hadn't taken anything, I promise you!". Piera was also a great cultural activist, with activities such as L'Any del Tirant and the magazine in an interview with ARA, he explained that he was still polishing his memoirs and recalled the emotion of receiving the Honorary Prize. "I still remember the evening I received the award at the Palau. Everyone was applauding me and I was raising my arms to give thanks. I was amazed and I hadn't taken anything, I promise you!". Piera was also a great cultural activist, with activities such as L'Any del Tirant and the magazine Cairell.