Joan Alegret i Llorens (Canet de Mar, 1941 – Calella, 2021) was a literary critic, translator, poet, and university professor, specialising in Catalan literature although his interests extended to universal literature. He is notable for his study and translations of the tanka, as well as his work in popularising literature, in some cases with original lectures from an astrological point of view.

In 1968, he obtained a degree in Romance Philology from the University of Barcelona where he continued to work as an untenured lecturer until 1979 when he was given tenure and moved to Palma. He wrote for periodical publications, founded the magazine Carrer Ample, recorded and transcribed lectures by Gabriel Ferrater, took part in the production of the Diccionari de Literatura Catalana (1979), became a member of the board of the Barcelona Athenaeum, and regularly taught at the Catalan Summer University in Prada de Conflent.

He also wrote a diary (still unpublished) and poetry, especially sonnets and tankas, a selection of which he published in the Poemes (2002). Moreover, he translated poems from other literatures, namely Occitan, Portuguese, and Japanese.

He was a member of the Associació d'Escriptors en Llengua Catalana (Association of Catalan Language Writers – AELC).

 

Web page: Irene Zurrón Servera for AELC.
Translation: Julie Wark.