Joan Perucho

Q: When did Joan Perucho die?

Joan Perucho died on October 28, 2003.

Q: How old was Joan Perucho when they died?

Joan Perucho was 82 years old at the time of death.

Joan Perucho Gutiérrez (Barcelona, 7 November 1920 – Barcelona, 28 October 2003) was a Spanish novelist, poet and art critic, an activity that alternated with his profession as a judge. His work, written in Catalan and Spanish mix with other traditional elements of avant-garde and science fiction that endow great originality. Natural Stories is his best known work.

He is one of the most prominent figures in fantasy literature on the Iberian Peninsula, where he introduced H.P. Lovecraft. His best-known book, Les històries naturals (1960), is a hilarious vampire story. Published in English as Natural History in 1992 and later translated into a handful of other languages, and was included by Harold Bloom in The Western Canon.

Beyond the literary work, Perucho created a fascinating character: erudite (but fond of mixing inventions with historical information), very ironic, passionate and exuberant. Judge by profession, he exercised his profession in small towns, to be able to work on books and articles. This took him from Barcelona to La Granadella, Banyoles, Móra d’Ebre, Gandesa and Tortosa. He wrote about the landscapes of the south, about Mediterranean Catalonia and about the Spain of the Visigothic period and the Cortes of Cádiz. Perucho's work is an invitation to pleasure, fun and reading.

As for his poetic work, written entirely in Catalan, Perucho approached symbolist poetry, which he mixed with surrealist influences.

Awards

In recognition of his work, Joan Perucho was awarded the Creu de Sant Jordi (1991), the Premi Nacional de Cultura (1995), the Rosalía de Castro Award (1996), the Medal of Artistic Merit of Barcelona City Council (2001), the Premio Nacional de las Letras Españolas (2002) and the National Prize of the Spanish Association of Fantasy and Science Fiction (2002). He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the Rovira i Virgili University on 10 November 1995.

Works

Narrative

1953: Diana i la mar morta
1956: Amb la tècnica de Lovecraft
1957: Llibre de cavalleries
1960: Les històries naturals
1963: Galería de espejos sin fondo
1965: Roses, diables i somriures
1968: Nicéforas y el grifo
1968: Aparicions i fantasmes
1969: Botànica oculta o el fals Paracels ISBN 84-233-1053-1
1972: Historias secretas de balnearios
1974: Històries apòcrifes
1975: Els balnearis
1976: Monstruari fantàstic
1981: Les aventures del cavaller Kosmas
1981: Museu d'ombres
1981: Petit museu de monstres marins
1981: Gàbia per a petits animals feliços. (Quaderns Crema)
1982: Discurs de l'Aquitània i altres refinades perversitats. (Quaderns Crema)
1983: Incredulitats i devocions
1983: Pamela
1984: Les delicies de l'oci
1984: Los laberintos bizantinos o un viaje con espectros
1984: Un viatge amb espectres. (Quaderns Crema)
1985: Dietario apócrifo de Octavio de Romeu
1986: La guerra de la Cotxinxina
1986: Roses, diables i somriures
1987: Minuta de mostruos
1988: Los misterios de Barcelona
1989: Els emperadors d'Abissínia
1990: Detrás del espejo
1990: El basilisc
1990: Algú a la nit respira
1990: Els fantasmes de la calaixera
1994: El baró de Maldà i les bèsties de l'infern
1995: Las sombras del mundo
1996: Fabulaciones
1997: Obres completes 1985–1997
2001: Carmina o la gnosi angélica
2001: Història d'un retrat
2001: La darrera mirada