Jesús Moncada

Jesús Moncada, born on December first, nineteen forty-one, was a multifaceted artist known for his contributions as a writer, translator, and painter. His literary work is celebrated for its unique blend of realism and fantasy, vividly re-creating the mythical past of Mequinenza, a town now submerged beneath the waters of the Ebro River.

Regarded as one of the most significant Catalan authors of his era, Moncada garnered numerous accolades throughout his career. Notably, he received the Premio Ciutat de Barcelona and the Premio Nacional de la Crítica in nineteen eighty-nine for his acclaimed novel, Camí de sirga (The Towpath). His literary achievements were further recognized when he was awarded the Creu de Sant Jordi by the Generalitat de Catalunya in two thousand one, and shortly before his passing, he received the Premio de las Letras Aragonesas in two thousand four.

Moncada's influence extends beyond his original works; he is one of the most translated authors in Catalan literature. His novel Camí de sirga has been translated into fifteen languages, including Japanese and Vietnamese. Additionally, he translated numerous works into Catalan from Spanish, French, and English, featuring renowned authors such as Guillaume Apollinaire, Alexandre Dumas, père, Jules Verne, and Boris Vian.

On July ninth, two thousand five, Moncada returned to his beloved Mequinenza, where he was honored with the title of 'favorite son.' He passed away on June thirteenth, two thousand five, after a battle with cancer. His ashes were scattered in the noble house of old Mequinenza, now submerged by the Ribarroja reservoir, surrounded by the memories of his family and the community he cherished.