Enrique Vila-Matas
Enrique Vila-Matas: A Life of Writing and Wonder
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Full Name and Common Aliases
Enrique Vila-Matas was born as Enrique Vila, but adopted the surname "Matas" from his mother's side. He is commonly known as Enrique Vila-Matas.
Birth and Death Dates
Born on July 19, 1948, in Barcelona, Spain. Unfortunately, Enrique Vila-Matas passed away on September 11, 2019, at the age of 71.
Nationality and Profession(s)
Enrique Vila-Matas was a Spanish writer, novelist, and essayist. He is best known for his contributions to the literary world as a novelist, but also wrote essays, short stories, and even a play or two.
Early Life and Background
Growing up in post-Civil War Barcelona had a profound impact on Enrique's life and writing. His family was of Catalan descent, and he would often draw upon this heritage in his work. Vila-Matas spent much of his childhood in the United States with his mother, where he developed an early interest in literature. He eventually returned to Spain to study law at the University of Barcelona, but soon abandoned it for a career in writing.
Major Accomplishments
Enrique Vila-Matas is celebrated for his unique and innovative approach to storytelling. His novels often blend elements of fiction, non-fiction, and essay-writing, creating a style that defies categorization. Some of his most notable works include:
Bartleby & Co: A novel that explores the themes of identity, language, and the search for meaning in a postmodern world.
Never Any Honour: A collection of short stories that examine the human condition through the lens of Catalan culture.
Notable Works or Actions
Throughout his career, Vila-Matas was recognized for his dedication to literature. He received numerous awards for his work, including:
The Prix Médicis Étranger in 2001
The Prince of Asturias Award for Literature in 2010
Quotes by Enrique Vila-Matas
He begins collecting books as well as passions, he knows that the hunt for books, like sexual pursuit, enriches the geography of pleasure.
No queda otra cosa que una gran masa analfabeta creada deliberadamente por el Poder, una especie de muchedumbre amorfa que nos ha hundido a todos en una mediocridad general.
Temas: Los de siempre. El pasado ya inalterable, el presente fugitivo, el inexistente futuro.
After all, what are we, what is any one of us, if not a combination, particular and exact, of what we have done, what we have read, and what we have imagined?
I think I have the right to be able to see myself differently from how others see me, to see myself however I want and not to be forced to be this person other people have decided I am.
He has always admired writers who each day begin a journey towards the unknown and who nevertheless spend all their time sitting in a room”.
Cuando leo algo que entiendo perfectamente, lo abandono desilusionado. No me gustan los relatos con historias comprensibles. Porque entender puede ser una condena. Y no entender, la puerta que se abre.