Cristina Fernández Cubas facts for kids
Cristina Fernández Cubas is a famous Spanish writer and journalist. She was born in Arenys de Mar, a town near Barcelona, in 1945. Many people think she is one of the most important writers to start publishing after the Franco dictatorship ended in Spain. She is also known for helping to bring back the popularity of 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 different cities. Some of these cities include Cairo, Lima, Buenos Aires, Paris, and Berlin.
Her First Books
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. After that, she wrote more story collections:
- 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 a book called Todos los cuentos. This collection won several awards, like the Premio Ciudad de Barcelona and the Premio Salambó.
Her Novels
Cristina Fernández Cubas has also written several novels. A novel is a longer story, like a full-length book.
- El año de Gracia (1985): This story takes place on a Scottish island called Gruinard. It's an exciting adventure and a journey of self-discovery.
- El columpio (1995): This book is about a girl who meets her three uncles again. They live in a faraway house in the Pyrenees mountains.
- La puerta entreabierta (2013): She 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.
Other Works and Awards
Besides stories and novels, Cristina has written other types of books:
- A play called Hermanas de sangre (1998).
- A memoir (a book about her own life) called Cosas que ya no existen (2001). This book won the Premio NH Hoteles.
- A biography (a book about someone else's life) of Emilia Pardo Bazán (2001).
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 translated into English as Nona’s Room. Critics have said her stories are "off-kilter Gothic" and explore mysteries of the mind.
In December 2021, the University of Alcalá de Henares gave Cristina an honorary doctorate. This is a special award from a university.
English Translations of Her Works
Many of Cristina Fernández Cubas's works have been translated so English speakers can read them.
- Blood Sisters (original title: Hermanas de sangre), translated by Karen Denise Dinicola, 2003, ISBN: 978-1913693-14-5
- Nona’s Room (original title: La habitación de Nona), translated by Kathryn Phillips-Miles and Simon Deefholts, 2017, ISBN: 978-072061953-9
- A Fresh Start (original title: La nueva vida) is included in The Penguin Book of Spanish Short Stories, translated by Kathryn Phillips-Miles & Simon Deefholts, 2021, ISBN: 978-024139047-4
- Take Six: Six Spanish Women Writers, edited and translated by Kathryn Phillips-Miles and Simon Deefholts, 2022. This book has new translations of some of Cristina's stories.
- The Gap Year (original title: El año de Gracia), translated by Kathryn Phillips-Miles and Simon Deefholts, 2022.
See also
In Spanish: Cristina Fernández Cubas para niños
