Author Nominee: Spain

Mariasun Landa
Spain, Author

Mariasun Landa, born in 1949 in Rentería, Spain, was teaching in a primary school when her first book was published in 1982. Prior to embarking on her teaching career, Landa gained a degree in social work in 1968 and degrees in philosophy from universities in Paris and Valencia; she obtained her PhD in psychology and education in 1998. She has paralleled her writing with an academic career and is currently a professor in the Department of Language and Literary Didactics, University of the Basque Country.

The publication in 1984 of Txan Fantasma marked a milestone in her career. The story is narrated by Chan, a ghost, who tells the story of an autistic girl who is committed to a mental hospital. Its critical realism and emotional intensity marked Landa as an author of note. This book was followed by other titles which also criticised the intransigence and conformity of society. Critic and academic Mari Jose Olaziregi comments that 'the concept of creation underlying all of Landa's works is worthy of mention. For her, writing for children does not mean limiting one's subject matter. Landa has always maintained that during childhood one can experience deep feelings and emotions (loneliness, fear, hatred, love), which children may not succeed in manifesting. She considers this one of the greatest challenges of children's literature: to speak of universal human feelings in an uncomplicated manner, using an apparently simple style …. Her stories value risk and tenderness, and display a minimalist style in which every word, every paragraph is millimetrically studied, where she seeks to eliminate anything superfluous or lacking in evocative depth.'

Mariasun Landa has written 30 books and her work has been acknowledged with many awards. Her books, written in the Basque language, are widely translated into other languages spoken in Spain as well as into languages aimed at a more international audience.