Felix de Azua

Félix de Azúa Comella (Barcelona, April 30, 1944) is a Spanish writer, member of the Royal Spanish Academy.

Biography

Félix de Azúa Comella has a degree in Philosophy and Letters and a PhD in Philosophy from the University of Barcelona, with the thesis entitled Aspects of Diderot's aesthetics: The double neoclassical-romantic model, directed by José María Valverde Pacheco and defended in 1982.

After starting his literary career, at the beginning of the seventies, as a consequence of the closure of the university faculties as a result of the events of 1969, he moved for three years from Madrid to Paris, where he combined university seminars with the environment one of the gatherings in the Latin Quarter, frequenting the one led by Agustín García Calvo at the La Boule d'Or café, whom he considers his teacher and the person who led him to Philosophy.

In the eighties he began teaching at the university, first at the Zorroaga Faculty of Philosophy and Educational Sciences (San Sebastián), dependent on the University of the Basque Country, and then at the University's Higher Technical School of Architecture Polytechnic of Catalonia, where in 1993 he obtained the position of professor in the area of knowledge of Aesthetics and Theory of the Arts by competition. He was appointed director of the Instituto Cervantes in Paris, a position he held between 1993 and 1995 and of which he resigned due to differences due to the policies maintained at that time by those responsible for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He is a regular contributor to the newspapers El País and El Periódico de Catalunya, as a columnist, columnist and cultural agitator.

In his poetic career, he was initially linked to the generation of the «newest», since in 1970 Josep Maria Castellet included him in the anthology Nine newest Spanish poets, forming the «coqueluche» of the same, together with the poets Pere Gimferrer, Vicente Molina Foix, Leopoldo María Panero, Guillermo Carnero and Ana María Moix. With this anthology he takes on a relevant role in contemporary Spanish poetry, although he immediately renounced his exclusive profession as a poet. His poetry is considered cold and hermetic, turning on the thematic axes of emptiness and nothingness. As for his narrative and prose literary production, he stands out for his reflective and cultural character, including strong doses of irony and sarcasm, especially in his most recent texts.

In the middle of the first decade of the XXI century, during the legislative process of the statutory reform of Catalonia, was one of the fifteen signatories of the two manifestos of the Ciutadans de Catalunya political platform (2005 and 2006), in favor of the constitution of a political formation that called itself non-nationalist. At the end of 2011, he decided to move his residence to Madrid together with his partner, the architect Eva Fidalgo Elices (January 18, 1974), with whom he has a daughter.

Since 2015 he has been a member of the Royal Spanish Academy, where he has been assigned the "H" chair, succeeding Martín de Riquer.

In 2022, Azúa occasionally wrote op-eds for The Objective.

Awards

Literary work

• 1987 - V Herralde Prize of novel. Barcelona: Editorial Anagrama.

Awarded work: Diary of a humiliated man.

• 2012 - XXXVII César González-Ruano Award for Journalism. Madrid: Mapfre Foundation.

Awarded work: «With Jeremiah». In: El País14 Aug. 2011. ISSN 1697-9397.

• 2014 - Knight Bonald International Essay Award for his book Paper Autobiography.

Trajectory

• 2000 - Premio Internazionale Sebetia-Ter. Culture: Art and Letters. Naples: Centri di Studi di Arte e Cultura di Napoli Sebetia-Ter.
• 2001 - VII Tolerance Award. Barcelona: Association for Tolerance.

Works

Poetry

• Grain for otter. Madrid: Paper Bird, 1968.
• The veil in the face of Agamemnon (1966-1969). Barcelona: El Bardo, 1970.
• Edgar in Stéphane. Barcelona: Lumen, 1971. ISBN 978-84-264-2904-9
• lime language. Madrid: Visor, 1972.
• Pass and seven songs. Barcelona: La Gaya Ciencia, 1977. ISBN 978-84-7080-917-0
• Poetry (1968-1978). Madrid: Hiperion, 1979. ISBN 978-84-85272-52-5 Collect the previous five books.
• Farra. Madrid: Hiperion, 1983. ISBN 978-84-7517-087-9
• Poetry (1968-1989). Madrid: Hiperion, 1989. 246 pages. ISBN 978-84-7517-271-2 Collect the previous six books.
• Last blood (Poetry 1968-2007). Barcelona: Bruguera, 2007. 259 pages. ISBN 978-84-02-42035-0 Collect the previous books and incorporate the series of seven poems that name the volume.

Novel and literary prose

• The lessons of Jena. Barcelona: Barral, 1972. ISBN 978-84-211-0247-3
• Lessons suspended. Madrid: Alfaguara, 1978. ISBN 978-84-204-2030-1
• Last lesson. Madrid: Legasa, 1981. 138 pages. ISBN 978-84-85701-56-8
• Mansura. Barcelona: Anagrama, 1984. 176 pages. ISBN 978-84-339-1710-2
• History of an idiot told by himself or the content of happiness. Barcelona: Anagrama, 1986. 126 pages. ISBN 978-84-339-1738-6
• Diary of a humiliated man. Barcelona: Anagrama, 1987. 288 pages. V Herralde Award. ISBN 978-84-339-1756-0
• Flag change. Barcelona: Anagrama, 1991. 254 pages. ISBN 978-84-339-0930-5
• Too many questions. Barcelona: Anagrama, 1994. 208 pages. ISBN 978-84-339-0966-4
• Critical moments. Barcelona: Anagrama, 2000. 368 pages. ISBN 978-84-339-2452-0
• Genesis. Barcelona: Random House Literature, 2015. 192 pages. ISBN 978-84-397-2969-3

Stories

• "He who saw himself." In: Three educational stories. Barcelona: La Gaya Ciencia, 1975. ISBN 978-84-7080-016-0
• The Revenge of the Truth. Madrid: Hyperion, 1978.
• The long journey of the messenger. Barcelona: Editorial Antártida, 1991. 48 pages. ISBN 978-84-7596-274-0
• "Bring me." In: El País6; 7 Aug. 1985. ISSN 1697-9397
• The braid. Cuenca: Antojos, 1989. Illustrated by Rafael Canogar. ISBN 978-84-86753-02-3
• "The Passenger." In: El País18 Nov. 1990. ISSN 1697-9397
• "The resignation of pride." In: Capital sins. Barcelona: Grijalbo, 1990.
• "The Passenger." In: Header counts [Vol. 7]. Barcelona: Planeta-DeAgostini; NH Hoteles, 1996.
• "The second scar." In: Header counts [Vol. 7]. Barcelona: Planeta-DeAgostini; NH Hoteles, 1996.
• "The father of his sons." In: Barcelona, one day. Madrid: Alfaguara, 1998.
• "The truth is above." In Turia. Cultural Journal1998, n. 46, pp. 49-54. ISSN 0213-4373

Essay

• Meet Baudelaire and his work. Barcelona: Dopesa, 1978. 124 pages. ISBN 978-84-7235-391-6
• Baudelaire and his work. Barcelona: Dopesa, 1978. 128 pages. ISBN 978-84-7235-392-3
• The paradox of the primitive. Barcelona: Seix Barral, 1983. 388 pages. ISBN 978-84-322-0827-0
• Learning from disappointment. Pamplona: Pamiela, 1989. 204 pages. ISBN 978-84-7681-084-2
• The Venice of Casanova. Barcelona: Planet, 1990. 169 pages. ISBN 978-84-320-4912-5
• Baudelaire and the artist of modern life. Pamplona: Pamiela, 1992. 176 pages. ISBN 978-84-7681-116-0; And Barcelona: Anagrama, 1999. 176 pages. ISBN 978-84-339-0575-8
• Tone breaks. 50 reflections of a citizen. Barcelona: Anagrama, 1997. 224 pages. ISBN 978-84-339-0527-7
• Compulsive readings. An invitation. Barcelona: Anagrama, 1998. 320 pages. ISBN 978-84-339-0565-9
• Cain's invention. Cities and citizens. Madrid: Alfaguara, 1999. 347 pages. ISBN 978-84-204-3086-7
• Dictionary of the Arts. Barcelona: Anagrama, 2002. 307 pages. ISBN 978-84-339-6182-2; And Barcelona: Debate, 2011. 335 pages. 2nd edition, revised and expanded. ISBN 978-84-9992-003-0
• Short circuits. Mute images. Madrid: Abada Editores, 2004. 90 pages. ISBN 978-84-96258-25-9
• The architecture of the non-citizen. Pamplona: Universidad Pública de Navarra, 2004. 240 pages. ISBN 978-84-9769-054-6
• Splendor and nothing. Barcelona: El Lector Universal, 2006. 278 pages. ISBN 978-84-935020-0-3
• Open all hours. Madrid: Alfaguara, 2007. 244 pages. ISBN 978-84-204-7189-1
• Black sheep. Barcelona: Bruguera, 2007. 251 pages. ISBN 978-84-02-42020-6
• The domesticated passion. The Queens of Persia and the Birth of Modern Painting. Madrid: Abada Editores, 2007. 94 pages. ISBN 978-84-96775-13-8
• "Preface", in Contre Guernica. PamphletAntonio Saura. Geneva: Archives Antonio Saura; 5 Continents Editions, 2008. 120 pages. ISBN 978-88-7439-475-3
• "Preface", in Against the Guernica. LibeloAntonio Saura. Geneva: Archives Antonio Saura; Editions La Central; Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, 2009. 120 pages. ISBN 978-84-936793-9-2
• Lifeless autobiography. Barcelona: Mondadori, 2010. 176 pages. ISBN 978-84-397-2322-6
• "Gender violence" From news to eternityFélix de Azúa (coord.). Madrid: Círculo de Bellas Artes, 2012. 184 pages. ISBN 978-84-939928-2-8
• Paper Autobiography. Barcelona: Mondadori, 2013. 184 pages. ISBN 978-84-397-2722-4
• Against Jeremiah. Political articles. Barcelona: Debate, 2013. 212 pages. ISBN 978-84-9992-289-8
• New compulsive readings. Madrid: Tiza Circle, 2017. 384 pages. ISBN 978-84-945719-0-9
• Look back. Art essays. Barcelona: Debate, 2019. 320 pages. ISBN 978-84-9992-939-2
• Third act. Barcelona: Random House Literature, 2020. 224 pages. ISBN 978-8439737810

Translation

• The language and the search for the truthJohn Wilson. Barcelona: Edhasa, 1971. ISBN 978-84-350-0037-6 English.
• Novels: The Religious; The nephew of Rameau; Jacques the FatalistDenis Diderot. Madrid: Alfaguara, 1979. 592 pages. ISBN 978-84-204-0200-0. French.
• WasteSamuel Beckett. Barcelona: Tusquets Editores, 1981. 80 pages. ISBN 978-84-7223-001-9 From French.
• Notes for the definition of cultureT. S. Eliot. Madrid: Bruguera, 1983. ISBN 978-84-02-09643-2 From English.
• No. Follower of The DepopulationSamuel Beckett. Barcelona: Tusquets Editores, 1984. 56 pages. ISBN 978-84-7223-029-3 From French.
• First loveSamuel Beckett. Barcelona: Tusquets Editores, 1984. 48 pages. ISBN 978-84-7223-026-2 From French.
• Principles of pure and applied anarchyPaul Valéry. Barcelona: Tusquets Editores, 1987. 214 pages. ISBN 978-84-7223-095-8 From French.
• The disciples in SaisNovalis. Madrid: Hyperion, 1988. ISBN 978-84-7517-228-6 From German.
• ReportsSamuel Beckett. Barcelona: Tusquets Editores, 1997. In collaboration with Ana María Moix and Jenaro Talens. 256 pages. ISBN 978-84-8310-543-6 From French.

Translation of his works

• History of an idiot told by himself or the content of happiness:
  • Histoire d'un idiot racontée par lui-même ou La recherche du bonheur. Paris: Éditions Sylvie Messinger, 1987. ISBN 2-86583-082-9 Translated to French by Éric Beaumatin.
  • História de um idiot contada por ele mesmo ou Or conteúdo da felize. Lisbon: Editorial Querco, 1988. Translated into Portuguese.
  • Istoria enos élíthion opos tén aphégeitai o idios (é To periechómeno tés eutychías) [chuckles]Ηιστορα ενός λιθίου όπος τιειν αφγγγεείται ο διος ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο]. Athéna: S. I. Zacharopoulos [χαρόπουλος], 1989. ISBN 978-960-208-033-7 Translated to the Greek by Biktoria Katré [.ικτόρια Κάτρη] and Pentro Mpooules [θρο Μπόουλες].
  • Historien om en nar fortalt af ham selv eller lykkens forhold. København: Samleren, 1989. Translated to Danish by Iben Hasselbalch.
  • Geschiedenis van een idioot door hemzelf verteld. Amsterdam: Contact, 1989. ISBN 978-90-254-6792-0 Translated to Dutch.
• Diary of a humiliated man:
  • In ydmyket manns dagbok. Oslo: Gyldendal Norsk, 1990. ISBN 978-82-05-18689-7 Translated to the Norwegian by Arne Worren.
  • Dagboek van een vernederd man. Amsterdam: Contact, 1989. ISBN 978-90-254-6816-3 Translated to Dutch.
  • Journal d'un homme humilié. Paris: Gallimard, 1991. ISBN 978-2-07-071970-9 Translated to French by Eric Beaumatin with the author's contest.
• Flag change:
  • Hautes trahisons. Paris: Éditions du Seuil, 1993. ISBN 978-2-02-015678-3 Translated to French by Eric Beaumatin with the author's contest. 183 pages.
  • Fahnenwechsel. Berlin: Klaus Wagenbach, 1993. ISBN 978-3-8031-3108-9 Translated to German.
• Critical moments:
  • L'heure du choix. Paris: Éditions du Seuil, 2004. ISBN 978-2-02-048132-4 Translated by Eric Beaumatin to French.
• The long journey of the messenger:
  • Il bambino che parlava agli animali. Milano: Mondadori, 1997. ISBN 978-88-04-43545-7 Italian translation by Francesca Lazzarato.

Controversy

In March 2016, in an interview in Tiempo magazine, Félix de Azúa assured that the mayoress of Barcelona, Ada Colau, "should be serving fish". Statements, branded as sexist and classist, led to rejection by various sectors of Spanish society, the collection of more than 110,000 signatures for her expulsion from the Royal Spanish Academy, as well as the reaction of Ada Colau, who stated that &# 34;in the future definitions of machismo and classism of the RAE, Mr. Azúa will be able to cite himself".