Jaume Vallcorba , the best editor of his generation, both in Catalan and Spanish, died yesterday, as a result of a brain tumor which was detected this spring, with no room for intervention. Jaume say Vallcorba (Tarragona, 1949-Barcelona, 2014) has been the best editor, first in Catalan, Castilian then, of his generation that is the truth. But it is also an understatement. Because it has also been a complete and present on various fronts intellectual culture. First, as a Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of Barcelona, and professor at the UAB, in Bordeaux III and the UPF. Then as very active link in the chain of the best Catalan cultural tradition, sharing some of his figures-the biggest JV Foix, Riquer Martí, Miquel Batllori- knowledge, bookish projects, friendship and some other night. Also as the author of his own works: Reading the Chanson de Roland, from spring to Paradise or editing of the poetic work of JM Junoy. And as polyglot able to read and write in Catalan, Castilian, French, English, German, Portuguese and Italian, allowing you to dive at leisure in European cultural traditions, authors discover, taste first and then here disclose their titles, to become European publishing a reference. He has also been a closely freelancer of power, which alone protectionist policies criticized as suport generic, while others said compete with him to carry off how much more fierce grant were put throw. He was convinced that the triangle author-publisher-reader should be sustained without institutional crutch.
For that to happen, Vallcorba worked with the greatest commitment, with the greater demands of exquisitely without accepting facilities or uses frozen. The issue for him, as for the best of his guild, was embodied in the development of a catalog. And a catalog, at least his, could not ignore either the present or to the European cultural tradition recognized as his own, and that his view started with the troubadours and stilnuovistas, still with Dante, Petrarch, Cervantes or Shakespeare, having in the twentieth century leading figures as Mann, Kafka or Auden.
The catalog Quaderns cream, seal Vallcorba established in 1979, brought a breath of fresh air and refreshing Catalan literature , then betting on young authors, central today as Quim Monzo or Sergi Pàmies also Ferran Torrent or Galmés Gabriel, among others. In Cliff, who founded twenty years later, recovered figures like Stefan Zweig and Joseph Roth, opened the door to the current Central European letters (Imre Kertész, László Krasznahorkai, Ádám Bodor or Kovacsics Adan) and managed to become sellers, and entered the XXI century , classic titles like Memoirs grave of François-René de Chateaubriand, the Life of Samuel Johnson by James Boswell and the foundation of Western culture that are the Essays of Michel de Montaigne, of course from the edition of Marie de Gournay . Their catalog is the irrefutable proof that, despite the stunning produced by hyper and greed still edit with dignity and high-mindedness, without paying the slightest homage to banalizador sign of the times, and over the top job -proeza maximalist an enviable commercial success.
To the editor was not only important what. So was, and much, how. Because in his view, “in editing intellectual work converge with the traditional (not forgetting the business acumen).” The care with which confeccionaba volumes is already legendary. Your font selection, quality-of ahuesado papers PH neutral color and more expensive, but claimed the books centenarian lives, from their glossy cardstock covers, guards his inner fire red or black; their natural yarn stitched … The dedication in the graphic design of the cover and the choice of illustrations, caring person; your choice of colors (black avoiding 100%), its precise layout … All this gave a higher aspect to his books.
This rigorous perfectionist, wrapped in a noucentistes manners and professional profile very formal suits, occasionally a Levitical point Jaume Vallcorba lived in the profile of the hedonist, lover of earthly pleasures: the sparkling conversation, hearty laughter amplified by its powerful jaw, cultural jokes, good food, the round wine, cigars and long trips, ideally the wheel of his powerful car.
Jaume Vallcorba gone very soon, in the fullness. As the diver of editorial Cliff, is now precipitated comforted by faith, in the darkness of non-being. But in oblivion. Because leaves behind more than a life fulfilled and a lasting impression on all who approached him attracted by the brightness of his generous work. (“Edit, he said, is to suggest to friends who do not know you might readings and encourage them”). And it leaves a lasting impression on those who, at the turn of the year, received the gift of your friendship.
The funeral will be held Monday at 19 pm in the Basilica of Sant Just i Pastor, in Barcelona.
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