Spanish novelist, poet and art critic
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.