Eduardo Mendoza Garriga facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Eduardo Mendoza
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| Born | Eduardo Mendoza Garriga 11 January 1943 Barcelona, Spain |
| Language | Spanish |
| Nationality | Spanish |
Eduardo Mendoza Garriga, born on January 11, 1943, is a famous Spanish writer. He writes novels, plays, and essays.
His first novel, La Verdad sobre el Caso Savolta (The Truth About the Savolta Case), came out in 1975. This book showed the big changes happening in Spain as it became a democracy. It was very popular.
Another well-known book is La Ciudad de los Prodigios (The City of Marvels), published in 1986. He is also famous for his funny "mad detective" novels, like El Laberinto de las Aceitunas (The Olive Labyrinth, 1982).
Contents
Early Life and Education
Eduardo Mendoza Garriga was born in Barcelona, Spain, on January 11, 1943.
In the early 1960s, he studied law. Later, from 1973 to 1982, he lived in New York City. There, he worked as an interpreter for the United Nations.
He tried working as a lawyer, but he soon realized he wanted to be a writer. Today, he lives in London.
Writing Career Highlights
In 1975, Mendoza published his first novel, La Verdad sobre el Caso Savolta (The Truth About the Savolta Case). This book was very successful. It showed his skill in using different writing styles.
Many people see this novel as a key book for the social changes in Spain after the Franco era. It was one of the first novels of the transition to democracy. The story talks about union fights in Barcelona in the early 1900s. It shows what life was like for workers back then.
Famous Novels About Barcelona
His most praised novel is probably La Ciudad de los Prodigios (The City of Marvels), from 1986. This book tells the story of how Barcelona changed and grew. It covers the time between the Universal Expositions of 1888 and 1929. A film based on this book was made in 1999 by Mario Camus.
In 1992, he wrote El Año del Diluvio (The Year of the Flood). This novel is about Sister Consuelo and her feelings after she meets Augusto Aixelâ. It also describes the difficult times in Spain after the civil war.
Another important Barcelona novel, Una Comedia Ligera (A Light Comedy), came out in 1996. This story is set in the 1940s.
The "Mad Detective" Series
Several of Mendoza's novels feature a very unique character: a "mad detective." This detective doesn't have a name and is accidentally locked up in a mental hospital.
The first book in this series is El Misterio de la Cripta Embrujada (The Mystery of the Enchanted Crypt, 1979). It's a funny parody that mixes detective stories with Gothic tales.
The second book, El Laberinto de las Aceitunas (The Olive Labyrinth, 1982), is one of his most popular works. Later books in the series include La Aventura del Tocador de Señoras (The Adventure of the Ladies' Dressing Table, 2001) and El Enredo de la Bolsa y la Vida (The Money and the Life Muddle, 2012). The fifth novel, El Secreto de la Modelo Extraviada (The Secret of the Missing Model), was released in 2015 and was also very successful.
Other Works
The Spanish newspaper El País published two of his novels in parts. These were Sin Noticias de Gurb (No Word from Gurb, 1990) and El Último Trayecto de Horacio Dos (The Last Journey of Horatio Dos, 2001). Both of these are funny science fiction comedy novels.
In 1993, he published his first play, Restauració (Restoration). He wrote it in Catalan and later translated it into Spanish himself. He wrote two more plays, and all three were published together in 2017.
In 2018, he released the novel El Rey Recibe (The King Receives). This is the first book in his Three Laws of Motion series. This series looks at the major events of the second half of the 20th century.
About His Writing Style
Experts who study Mendoza's books often divide his work into serious novels and humorous ones. However, newer studies show that even his funny books have serious messages and deep ideas. Also, his serious books often have humor in them. This is because his writing is influenced by modern novel styles.
Awards and Recognition
Eduardo Mendoza is considered one of the most important living Spanish writers. He is part of a group of authors known as the Spanish New Narrative.
He has won many important awards, including:
- 1976: Critics Prize, for his first novel La Verdad sobre el Caso Savolta
- 2010: Premio Planeta de Novela, for his novel Riña de Gatos. Madrid, 1936 (An Englishman in Madrid)
- 2013: European Book Prize (fiction), also for An Englishman in Madrid
- 2015: Franz Kafka Prize, making him the first Spanish writer to win it
- 2016: Miguel de Cervantes Prize, which is the most important award for literature written in Spanish
- 2024: Premio Cultura (Culture Award) in the Premios Vanguardia
Personal Life
Mendoza had close friendships with other writers. These included novelists Juan Benet and Juan García Hortelano, poet Pere Gimferrer, and writer (and neighbor) Félix de Azúa.
See also
In Spanish: Eduardo Mendoza para niños
