Cristina Fernández Cubas facts for kids
Cristina Fernández Cubas (born in Arenys de Mar, Spain, in 1945) is a famous Spanish writer and journalist. Many people say she is one of the most important writers to start publishing after a big change in Spain's history. She is also known for bringing new life to short stories in Spain.
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About Cristina Fernández Cubas
Cristina Fernández Cubas studied Law and Journalism at the University of Barcelona. There, she met another writer, Carlos Trías Sagnier, and they later got married. They have traveled a lot and lived in many cities around the world, like Cairo, Lima, Buenos Aires, Paris, and Berlin.
Her Books and Stories
Cristina started working as a journalist when she was young. Her first book was a collection of short stories called Mi hermana Elba, published in 1980. She then wrote more story collections, including:
- Los altillos de Brumal (1983)
- El ángulo del horror (1990)
- Con Ágatha en Estambul (1994)
- Parientes pobres del diablo (2006) – This book won the Setenil Award.
In 2009, all her short stories were put together in one book called Todos los cuentos. This book won several important awards, like the Premio Ciudad de Barcelona and the Premio Salambó.
She has also written several novels:
- El año de Gracia (1985) – This adventure story is set on the Scottish island of Gruinard. It mixes real events with amazing, fantastic ideas. It's about a journey of self-discovery.
- El columpio (1995) – This book tells the story of a girl who meets her three uncles again. They live in a quiet part of the Pyrenees mountains.
- La puerta entreabierta (2013) – Cristina published this novel using the name Fernanda Kubbs. It's about a journalist who doesn't believe in psychics. But then something surprising happens when she visits one.
Cristina has also written other types of books:
- A play called Hermanas de sangre (1998).
- A book of memories, Cosas que ya no existen (2001). This book won the Premio NH Hoteles for short stories.
- An excellent biography about another famous writer, Emilia Pardo Bazán (2001).
Awards and Recognition
In 2016, Cristina Fernández Cubas won two big awards for her short story collection La habitación de Nona (2015). These were the National Literature Prize for Narrative and the Premio de la Crítica Española. This book was later translated into English as Nona’s Room.
Critics have praised her work. Terrence Rafferty from the New York Times said her stories explore the strange and sometimes scary parts of our imagination. Lucy Scholes also noted that Cristina "brings darkness to light with uncanny flair." She warned that these "off-kilter Gothic short stories are remarkable but not for the faint-hearted." Another critic, Rachel Rees, has praised her stories for being surreal, which means they have dream-like or very unusual qualities.
Professor Phyllis Zatlin said that Cristina's stories often look into the mysteries of the world around us and inside our minds. She explores our inner thoughts and hidden desires.
In December 2021, Cristina received a special honor. The University of Alcalá de Henares gave her an honorary doctorate, which is a high academic award.
English Translations of Her Works
Many of Cristina Fernández Cubas's books have been translated into English:
- Blood Sisters (Hermanas de sangre) translated by Karen Denise Dinicola, Estreno Press, 2003, ISBN: 978-1913693-14-5
- Nona’s Room (La habitación de Nona)[Usurped!] translated by Kathryn Phillips-Miles and Simon Deefholts, Peter Owen Publishers, 2017, ISBN: 978-072061953-9
- The Penguin Book of Spanish Short Stories, edited by Margaret Jull Costa, includes A Fresh Start (La nueva vida) translated by Kathryn Phillips-Miles & Simon Deefholts, Penguin Books, 2021, ISBN: 978-024139047-4
- Take Six: Six Spanish Women Writers, edited and translated by Kathryn Phillips-Miles and Simon Deefholts: Dedalus Books, 2022. (This book has new translations of stories by Cristina).
- The Gap Year (El año de Gracia) translated by Kathryn Phillips-Miles and Simon Deefholts, The Clapton Press, 2022.
See also
In Spanish: Cristina Fernández Cubas para niños
