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Camilo José Cela

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Spanish novelist, poet, essayist (1916–2002) In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Cela and the second or maternal family name is Trulock.
The Most Excellent
Camilo José Cela
BornCamilo José Cela y Trulock
(1916-05-11)11 May 1916
Iria Flavia, Galicia, Spain
Died17 January 2002(2002-01-17) (aged 85)
Madrid, Spain
Resting placeIria Flavia cemetery
Occupation
  • Novelist
  • short story writer
  • essayist
LanguageSpanish
Notable works
Notable awards
Spouse
María del Rosario Conde Picavea ​ ​(m. 1944; div. 1990)​
Marina Concepción Castaño López ​ ​(m. 1991)​
ChildrenCamilo José Cela Conde
Seat Q of the Real Academia Española
In office
26 May 1957 – 17 January 2002
Preceded byRafael Estrada Arnaiz
Succeeded byCarlos Castilla del Pino [es]
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Camilo José Cela y Trulock, 1st Marquess of Iria Flavia (Spanish: [kamilo xoˈse ˈθela]; 11 May 1916 – 17 January 2002) was a Spanish novelist, poet, story writer and essayist associated with the Generation of '36 movement.

He was awarded the 1989 Nobel Prize in Literature "for a rich and intensive prose, which with restrained compassion forms a challenging vision of man's vulnerability".

Childhood and early career

Camilo José Cela was born in the rural parish of Iria Flavia, in Padrón, A Coruña, Spain, on 11 May 1916. He was the oldest child of nine. His father, Camilo Crisanto Cela y Fernández, was Galician. His mother, Camila Emanuela Trulock y Bertorini, was a Galician of English and Italian ancestry. The family was upper-middle-class and Cela described his childhood as being "so happy it was hard to grow up."

He lived with his family in Vigo from 1921 to 1925, when they moved to Madrid. There, Cela studied at a Piarist school. In 1931 he was diagnosed with tuberculosis and admitted to the sanatorium of Guadarrama, where he took advantage of his free time to work on his novel Pabellón de reposo. While recovering from the illness Cela began intensively reading works by José Ortega y Gasset and Antonio de Solís y Ribadeneyra.

The Spanish Civil War broke out in 1936 when Cela was 20 years old and just recovering from his illness. His political leanings were conservative and he escaped to the rebel zone. He enlisted himself as a soldier but was wounded and hospitalized in Logroño.

Career

The civil war ended in 1939; after the war, Cela became indecisive towards his university studies and ended up working in a bureau of textile industries. It was here where he began to write what would become his first novel, La familia de Pascual Duarte (The Family of Pascual Duarte), which was finally published when he was 26, in 1942. Pascual Duarte has trouble finding validity in conventional morality and commits a number of crimes, including murders, for which he feels nothing. The novel is of particular importance as it played a large part in shaping the direction of the post-World War II Spanish novel.

Camilo José Cela (right) in 1988.

Cela became a censor in Francoist Spain in 1943. Perhaps his best-known work was produced during a period where his own writing came under scrutiny from his fellow censors, including La colmena (The Hive) which was published in Buenos Aires in 1951, having been banned in Spain because of the perceived immorality of its content referencing erotic themes. This meant that his name could no longer appear in the printed media. The novel features more than 300 characters and a style showing the influence of both Spanish realism and contemporary English and French-language authors. Cela's signature style—a sarcastic, often grotesque, form of realism—is epitomized in La colmena. Cela remained loyal to Francoist Spain, even working as an informer for the Spanish secret police by reporting on the activities of dissident groups and betraying fellow intellectuals.

From the late 1960s, with the publication of San Camilo, 1936, Cela's work became increasingly experimental. In 1988 he wrote Christ Versus Arizona (Spanish: Cristo versus Arizona), which tells the story of the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral in a single sentence that is more than one hundred pages long.

In his later years Cela became known for his scandalous outbursts; in an interview with Mercedes Milá for Spanish state television he boasted of his ability to absorb litres of water via his anus while offering to demonstrate. Cela had already scandalized Spanish society with his Diccionario secreto (Secret Dictionary, 1969–1971), a dictionary of slang and taboo words. In 1998, Cela expressed discomfort towards the presence of homosexual groups at the commemoration of Federico García Lorca's centenary, stating that, "For me, I would prefer a more straightforward and less anecdotal commemoration without the support of gay groups. I have nothing against gays, I just do not take it up the ass".

Distinctions

On 26 May 1957, Cela was appointed a member of the Royal Spanish Academy and given Seat Q. He was appointed Royal Senator in the Constituent Cortes, where he exerted some influence in the wording of the Spanish Constitution of 1978. In 1987, he was awarded the Prince of Asturias Award for Literature.

Cela was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1989 "for a rich and intensive prose, which with restrained compassion forms a challenging vision of man's vulnerability".

In 1994, he was awarded the Premio Planeta, although some question the objectivity of the awards, and winners on occasion have refused to accept it. Two years later, in recognition of his contributions to literature, Cela was ennobled on 17 May 1996 by King Juan Carlos I, who gave Cela the hereditary title of Marquess of Iria Flavia in the nobility of Spain. On his death the title passed to his son Camilo José Cela Conde.

Cela described the Spanish Cervantes Prize for lifetime achievement as a writer as being "covered with shit". In 1995 he was offered the prize, which he accepted.

Cela's arms as 1st Marquess of Iria Flavia (1996)

Death

Cela died from heart disease on 17 January 2002 at the Hospital Centro in Madrid, aged 85. He was buried in his hometown at the parish cemetery of Santa María de Adina.

Cela's will was contested because he favoured his widow and second younger wife, Marina Castaño, over his son Camilo José Cela Conde from his first marriage to Rosario Conde.

Selected works

Spanish

Novels

Short-story collections

  • El bonito crimen del carabinero, y otras invenciones. Barcelona: José Janés. 1947.
  • El gallego y su cuadrilla. Madrid: Ricardo Aguilera. 1949.
  • Baraja de invenciones. Valencia: Castalia. 1953.
  • El molino de viento y otros novelas cortas. Barcelona: Noguer. 1956.
  • Nuevo retablo de Don Cristobita: Invenciones, figuraciones y alucinaciones. Barcelona: Destino. 1957.

Drama and poetry collections

  • Pisando la dudosa luz del dia. Barcelona: Ed. del Zodíaco. 1945.
  • Cancionero de la Alcarria. San Sebastían: Norte. 1948.
  • María Sabina. Palma de Mallorca: Papeles de Son Armadans. 1967.
  • El caro de heno o El inventor de la guillotina. Palma de Mallorca: Papeles de Son Armadans. 1969.
  • María Sabina; El carro de heno o El inventor de la guillotina (2d ed.). Madrid: Alfaguara. 1970.
  • Poesía completa. Barcelona: Círculo de lectores. 1996.
  • La extracción de la piedra de la locura o El inventor del garrote. Barcelona: Seix Barral. 1999.

Travel writing

  • Viaje a la Alcarria. MadridBarcelona: Revista de Occidente. 1948.
  • Avila. Barcelona: Noguer. 1952.
  • Del Miño al Bidasoa: Notas de un vagabundaje. Barcelona: Noguer. 1952.
  • Vagabundo por Castilla. Barcelona: Seix Barral. 1955.
  • Judíos, moros y cristianos: Notas de un vagabundaje por Avila, Segovia y sus tierras. Barcelona: Destino. 1956.
  • Primer viaje andaluz : notas de un vagabundaje por Jaén, Córdoba, Sevilla, Segovia, Huelva y sus tierras. Barcelona: Noguer. 1959.
  • Viaje al Pirineo de Lérida : notas de un paseo a pie por el Pallars, Sobirá, el Valle de Arán y el Condado de Ribagorza. Madrid: Alfaguara. 1965.
  • Nuevo viaje a la Alcarria. Barcelona: Plaza & Janés. 1986.

Essays

  • Mesa revuelta. Madrid: Ediciones de los Estudiantes Españoles. 1945.
  • Cajón de sastre. Madrid: Cid. 1957.
  • La rueda de los ocios. Barcelona: Mateu. 1957.

Criticism

  • Cuatro figuras del 98: Unamuno, Valle-Inclán, Baroja, Azorín, y otros retratos y ensayos españoles. Barcelona: Aedos. 1961.

Reference works

  • Diccionario secreto. Madrid: Alfaguara. 1968. (Updated since initial publication.)
  • Enciclopedia del erotismo. Madrid: Sedmay. 1977. (4 volumes.)
  • Cachondeos, escarceos y otros meneos . Madrid: Ediciones Temas de Hoy. 1991.
  • Diccionario geográfico popular de España. Madrid: Editorial Nóesis. 1998.

Memoirs

  • La cucaña: Memorias de Camilo José Cela. Barcelona: Destino. 1959.
  • Memorias, entendimientos y voluntades. Barcelona: Plaza & Janés. 1993.

Correspondence

  • Correspondencia con el exilio. Barcelona: Destino. 2009. (Cela's correspondence with 13 exiled Spanish writers: María Zambrano, Rafael Alberti, Américo Castro, Fernando Arrabal, Jorge Guillén, Max Aub, Emilio Prados, Luis Cernuda, Manuel Altolaguirre, León Felipe, Corpus Barga, Francisco Ayala, Ramón J. Sender.)
  • Correspondencia: Camilo José Cela, Antonio Vilanova. Barcelona: PPU. 2012.

Collected works

  • Obra completa. Barcelona: Ediciones Destino. 1962. (Volumes published as completed since 1962.) Volume 1: Las tres primeras novelas (1942—44); Volume 2: Cuentos (1941—53); Volume 3: Apuntes carpetovetonicos. Novelas cortas (1941–56); Volume 4: Viajes por España, 1 (1948—52); Volume 5: Viajes por España, 2 (1952—58); Volume 6: Viajes por España, 3 (1959—64)l Volume 7: Tres novelas más (1951—55); Volume 8: Los amigos y otra novela (1960—62); Volume 9: Glosa del mundo en torno. Articulos, 1. (1940—53). Mesa revuelta. 5. ed.; Volume 10: Glosa del mundo en torno. Articulos, 2. (1944—59). Cajón de sastre. 4. ed; Paginas de geografía errabunda. 3. ed.; Volume 1:. Glosa del mundo en torno. Artʹiculos, 3 (1945-1954). Las compañías convenientes y otros fingimientos y cegueras. 3a ed. Garito de hospicianos o Guirigay de imposturas y bambollas. 4a ed.; Volume 12: Glosa del mundo en torno. Artículos, 4 (1943—61). La rueda de los ocios. 4a ed. Cuatro figuras del 98. 2a ed.; Volume 14: Enciclopedia del erotismo, 1. Aachen—Cirene; Volume 15: Enciclopedia del erotismo, 1. Cirial—Futrʹosofo; Volume 16: Enciclopedia del erotismo, 3. Gabacho—Óvulo; Volume 17: Enciclopedia del erotismo, 4. Pabst—Zurrucarse.
  • Olivia Rodríguez González, ed. (2006). Retorno a Iria Flavia: obra dispersa y olvidada, 1940-2001. Santiago de Compostela: Alvarellos Editora.

English translations

  • Pascual Duarte's family. Translated by Marks, John. London: Eyre & Spottiswoode. 1946.
  • The Hive. Translated by Cohen, J.M. New York: Farrar, Straus and Young. 1953. (Reprinted: New York: New York: Noonday Press, 1990.) Translation of La colmena.
  • The Family of Pascual Duarte. Translated by Kerrigan, Anthony. Boston: Little, Brown. 1964.
  • Journey to the Alcarria. Translated by López-Morillas, Frances M. Madison, Wisconsin: University of Wisconsin Press. 1964. Translation of Viaje a la Alcarria.
  • Pascual Duarte and His Family. Translated by Briffault, Herma. New York: Las Americas Pub. Co. 1965.
  • Mrs. Caldwell Speaks to Her Son. Translated by Bernstein, J.S. Ithaca, N.Y.: Cornell University Press. 1968. Authorized translation of Mrs. Caldwell habla con su hijo.
  • San Camilo, 1936: The Eve, Feast, and Octave of St. Camillus of the year 1936 in Madrid. Translated by Polt, J.H.R. Durham: Duke University Press. 1991. Translation of Visperas, festividad y octava de San Camilo del año 1936 en Madrid.
  • Mazurka for Two Dead Men. Translated by Haugaard, Patricia. New York: New Directions. 1992. ISBN 9780811212229. Translation of Mazurca para dos muertos.
  • Boxwood. Translated by Haugaard, Patricia. New York: New Directions. 2002. Translation of Madera de boj.
  • Christ Versus Arizona. Translated by Sokolinsky, Martin. Champaign: Dalkey Archive Press. 2007.

See also

References

  1. "Nobel Prize in Literature 1989". Nobel Foundation. Retrieved 2008-10-17.
  2. "Camilo José Cela - Biographical". www.nobelprize.org. Retrieved 2016-07-13.
  3. ^ Eaude, Michael (2002-01-18). "Obituary: Camilo José Cela". The Guardian. Retrieved 2016-07-13.
  4. El censor censurado; cien añ0s de Camilo José Cela
  5. The Paris Review
  6. The modern novel: Camilo José Cela: La colmena (The hive)
  7. Unearthing Franco's Legacy, p.15 University of Notre Dame Press, ISBN 0-268-03268-8
  8. "Spanish novelist spied for Franco's regime". The Guardian. 25 September 2004.
  9. Todos los títulos fueron suyos Archived 2007-10-07 at the Wayback Machine, Luis Ventoso, La Voz de Galicia, 18 January 2002.
  10. Artículo homófobo sobre Lorca
  11. Nobel prize citation
  12. "Camilo José Cela". Archived from the original on 2015-10-06. Retrieved 2012-05-31.
  13. La leyenda del gran provocador, Ángel Vivas, El Mundo, 18 January 2002.
  14. BBC obituary
  15. Viuda e hijo, enfrentados por su herencia

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Political offices
Preceded byTitle jointly held Spanish Senator
1977–1979 		Succeeded byTitle jointly held
Awards
Preceded byMario Vargas Llosa
Rafael Lapesa 		Recipient of the Prince of Asturias Award for Literature
1987 		Succeeded byJosé Angel Valente
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Preceded byNaguib Mahfouz Recipient of the Nobel Prize for Literature
1989 		Succeeded byOctavio Paz
Preceded byMario Vargas Llosa Recipient of the Miguel de Cervantes Prize
1995 		Succeeded byJosé García Nieto
Spanish nobility
New title Marquess of Iria Flavia
1996–2002 		Succeeded byCamilo José Cela Conde
Camilo José Cela
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