There are many historical reports that Sònia Casas (Barcelona, 1977) has written throughout her journalistic career that had the potential to become a book. What she did not imagine is that it would be one about Gaudí and the landscapes that could have inspired her work that would encourage her to write the novel with which she won the Nèstor Luján prize this Tuesday.
It is about Return to the origins. Els quaderns perduts d'Antoni Gaudí, a story halfway between reality and fiction with which the reader can immerse himself in the biographies of the Catalan architect and the first State Egyptologist and promoter of the restoration of the Poblet monastery, Eduard Toda , of whom there is evidence that "began a friendship in the Escoles Pies de Reus", which they maintained for several years. "It is not known how deep it was, but I play with it," the journalist and writer has advanced during the press conference in which she has proclaimed herself the winner.
Of course, "there is no intention of the book becoming a biopic of both". For this reason, Casas skilfully intertwines the story of both characters with a contemporary plot, starring a married couple who begin an investigation against the clock in the natural environment of Escornalbou, near Reus.
It is in this place in the Baix Camp where Casas went six years ago to carry out a report for Sàpiens, a magazine of which she was editor-in-chief for fifteen years. Specifically on the Collet Rodó mountain, in the place known as Coll de Desenrocada, "a place that is now preserved and that could have inspired Gaudí". The peculiar geography of the environment bears a resemblance to elements of the architecture of La Pedrera, Casa Batlló and Park Güell and the journalist saw it feasible that in her youth her genius traveled those places.
The novel, which hits bookstores this Wednesday, also explores Gaudí's passionate, and at the same time mysterious, love for a young woman from Roselló during a summer in Riudoms.
The Nèstor Luján award is the first and only award to date for a historical novel in Catalan. Since it was created in 1997, it has awarded authors such as Andreu Claret, Glòria Sabaté, Imma Tubella and Laia Perearnau, among others.
The jury for this edition was formed by Glòria Gasch, Tin Luján, Vicent Sanchis, Jaume Sobrequés and Maria Carme Roca, who by majority have decided to award the award to the work of Sònia Casas.
