Quick Facts
Biography
Maria Mercè Marçal i Serra (November 13, 1952 – July 5, 1998) was a Catalan poet, professor, writer and translator.
She spent her childhood in Ivars d'Urgell (Pla d'Urgell). She went to high-school in Lleida and studied Literature at the University of Barcelona. In 1972 she was driven by circumstances to marry the poet Ramon Pinyol Balasch. They separated some time afterwards.
She translated into Catalan books by Colette, Marguerite Yourcenar, Anna Akhmatova, Marina Tsvetaeva, Baudelaire and Leonor Fini.
Marina Rossell, Teresa Rebull, Ramon Muntaner, Txiqui Berraondo, Maria del Mar Bonet, Celdoni Fonoll and Gisela Bellsolà sing her poems. She died of cancer aged 45.
Books
Her first book of poems Cau de llunes (Carles Riba Prize 1976), introduced by a splendid sestina penned by Joan Brossa, includes the poem "Divisa," which is like a manifesto summarizing what guided her activism:
To fate I am grateful for three gifts: having been born a woman,
of low class and oppressed nation.
And the turbid azure of being three times a rebel.
These verses became well known and practically the banner of the leftist feminist movement in Catalonia, which has appropriated the author as one of their own to the point of reviving her as a leading writer in absolute terms.
- Cau de llunes. Barcelona: Proa, 1977. ISBN 84-209-7191-X
- Bruixa de dol (1977–1979). Sant Boi de Llobregat: Llibres del Mall, 1979. ISBN 84-7456-049-7
- Terra de mai. Valencia: El cingle, 1982. ISBN 84-7456-124-8
- Sal oberta. Sant Boi de Llobregat: Llibres del Mall, 1982. ISBN 84-7456-122-1
- La germana, l'estrangera (1981–1984). Sant Boi de Llobregat: Llibres del Mall, 1985. ISBN 84-7456-277-5
- Contraclaror: antologia poètica, de Clementina Arderiu. Barcelona: La Sal, edicions de les dones, 1985. ISBN 84-85627-26-1
- Desglaç (1984–1988). Barcelona: Edicions 62 - Empúries, 1988.
- Llengua abolida (1973–1988). Valencia: Climent, 1989. ISBN 84-7502-246-4
- La passió segons Renée Vivien. Barcelona: Proa, 1994. ISBN 84-7809-739-2
- Paisatge emergent: trenta poetes catalanes del S.XX. Barcelona: La Magrana, 1999. ISBN 84-8264-167-0
- Raó del cos. Barcelona: Edicions 62 - Empúries, 2000. ISBN 84-297-4685-4
- Contraban de llum: antologia poètica. Barcelona: Proa, 2001. ISBN 84-8256-672-5
- El meu amor sense casa (CD). Barcelona: Proa, 2003. ISBN 84-8437-513-7