Spanish writer Juan Trejo, acclaimed for his poignant explorations of personal and collective histories, presents his latest work, Nela 1979, in a public conversation at Georgetown University.
Nela 1979 is a deeply personal narrative that delves into the life and untimely death of Trejo's sister, Nela, who passed away at 21 in 1979. The novel reconstructs her journey from a rebellious youth in 1970s Barcelona to her tragic end in Valencia, offering a window into the era's countercultural movements and the devastating impact of heroin on a generation.
In conversation with Professor Emily Francomano, Trejo will discuss how his family's silence and the societal neglect surrounding Nela's life and death influenced his writing. He will explore the intersections of personal memory and historical narrative, reflecting on the broader implications for understanding Spain's social fabric during a transformative period.
This event offers a unique opportunity to engage with one of Spain's most prominent contemporary authors as he revisits a painful chapter of his family's history, shedding light on a generation's struggles and resilience.
About the author
Juan Trejo (Barcelona, 1970) holds a degree in Hispanic Philology from the University of Barcelona. He was a member of the editorial board of the now-defunct Lateral magazine and co-director of the literary magazine Quimera. He works as a literary translator and contributes to Altaïr Magazine.
His first novel, El fin de la Guerra Fría, was praised as “a superb exercise in recovering sentimentality written with new tools” (Robert Juan-Cantavella). In 2014, La máquina del porvenir won the X Tusquets Prize for its “formidable narrative display and imaginative ambition,” according to the jury.
His third novel, La otra parte del mundo, was described as “a most original and profound fable disguised as a standard novel” (Carlos Robles, Quimera). He is also the author of the highly original La barrera del sonido (2019).
His latest novel, NELA, 1979 (2024), was also published by Tusquets and praised for how it “unearths a Spain no one wanted to see, which Trejo imbues with painful dignity and literary greatness. An intimate and generous feat that speaks to us all” (Sergio del Molino).
Organized by the Cultural Office of the Embassy of Spain in Washington, DC in collaboration with Georgetown University.
