Isabel-Clara Simó (Alcoi, 1943-2020) was a writer and journalist.

With degrees in Philosophy and Journalism, and a PhD in Romance Philology, her journalistic work includes the period she spent working as editor of the weekly Canigó, the articles she regularly publishes in the written press and her radio and television appearances. She has also been Head of Books in the Department of Culture of the Generalitat (Government) of Catalonia, a lecturer at the Pompeu Fabra University of Barcelona, and vice-president for Catalonia of Associació d'Escriptors en Llengua Catalana (AELC – Association of Catalan Language Writers).

Since winning the Víctor Català Prize in 1978 with her first book, És quan miro que hi veig clar, she has published about fifty other works embracing almost all the genres: novel, short story, young people's literature, theatre, poetry, radio and television scripts, collected articles, essay, memoirs…

Isabel-Clara Simó has been awarded the Sant Jordi (Saint George) Prize, the Serra d'Or Critics' Prize, the Critic's Prize for Valencian Writers (on four occasions), the Andròmina Fiction Prize, the Catalan-Language Book Week Writing Career Prize, the Alcoi Gold Medal, the Jaume Fuster Prize from Catalan Language Writers and the Premi d'Honor (Honorary Prize) de les Lletres Catalanes, and many more.

With the constant reprints of her books and their translation into several languages, Isabel-Clara Simó is one of the best-known writers in Catalan literature today.

Isabel-Clara Simó was an honorary member of Associació d'Escriptors en Llengua Catalana (AELC – Association of Catalan Language Writers), and from 2016 to 2019 she was the Dean of Institució de les Lletres Catalanes.



Documentation: Lena Paüls.
Update: Josep Miàs.
Photographs: © Carme Esteve/AELC (2013).
Web page produced with the support of the Institució de les Lletres Catalanes (Institute of Catalan Letters).
Translation: Julie Wark.