Josep Vallverdú (1923 – 2026)

Their Story

Josep Vallverdú was born in Lleida on July 9, 1923, and would become one of the most influential figures in Catalan literature. He dedicated his professional and artistic life to letters after studying philosophy and literature, specializing in classical philology, at the University of Barcelona. A great renovator of writing for children and young people in the country, Vallverdú was also a chronicler of the lands of Ponent and a notable memorialist, translator, professor, and cultural activist. For more than six decades, Vallverdú dedicated himself to building one of the most prolific works—exceeding 200 books—in contemporary Catalan literature. In the late 1960s, he wrote his most emblematic work, 'Rovelló,' about a dog adopted by a family of farmers, which was later adapted into a popular animated series. He also cultivated narrative for adults, theatre, and essays, translating works by authors including Chesterton, Graham Greene, Jack London, and Oscar Wilde. His numerous honors included the Premi d'Honor de les Lletres Catalanes (2000), the Premi Trajectòria (2002), and the Medalla d'Or de la Generalitat (2019). He passed away at age 103, leaving behind an immense cultural legacy that shaped generations of readers.

Sources

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josep_Vallverd%C3%BA