Joaquim Molas (Barcelona, 1930-2015), was a Catalan language and literature university professor, historian and literary critique.

Systematic and thorough researcher, he devised some of the most widely known literary collections, which were important referents in the recuperation of the Catalan literary legacy: "Les millors obres de la literatura catalana", "Les millors obres de la literatura universal", among others. He coordinated the Diccionari de la literatura catalana (1965), and five volumes of the Història de la literatura catalana (1986). He is the founder of the literary critique magazine Els Marges. Some of his works were compiled in Obra crítica I (1995), awarded the Lletra d'Or and the Crítica Serra d'Or in 1997; and Obra crítica II (1999), also awarded the Crítica Serra d'Or in 2000. His memoirs book Fragments de memòria (1997) was awarded with the Premi de la Institució de les Lletres Catalanes de prosa de no-ficció in 1998.

His career has been recognized with the Premi d'Honor de les Lletres Catalanes (1998), Creu de Sant Jordi (1999), Medalla del mèrit cultural de l'Ajuntament de Barcelona (2002), Medalla d'Or de la Generalitat de Catalunya (2003) and the Doctor Honoris Causa per la Universitat de Lleida (2006).

He was a numerary member of Institut d'Estudis Catalans and an honorary member of Associació d'Escriptors en Llengua Catalana (AELC, Association of Catalan Language Writers).



Documentation: Lena Paüls.
Page updated by Josep Miàs for the AELC.
Photograph: ©Francesc Sitges (Pòrtic).
Translated by Josep Miàs.