Manuel Montalbán

He was born in Barcelona in 1939. He wrote and published poetry collections, novels, and essays. Among his most significant works are the following: "An Emotional Education," "Marxist Issues," "Prague," "Emotional Chronicle of Spain," "Hypophysiological Manifesto," "The Pianist," "Emotional Chronicle of the Transition," "Happy End," and "Meals with Disturbing People." The eccentric detective Pepe Carvalho first appeared in the novel "I Killed Kennedy" (1970). Montalbán's original narrative style in this work opened new literary paths and established the "Pepe Carvalho" series. In addition to the awards for "The South Seas," M.V. Montalbán won Spain's National Narrative Award, the European Novel Award (1992) for his work on the Spanish writer and politician Galindez, and in 1995, he was awarded the National Spanish Literature Prize for his entire body of work. In 2000, Montalbán received the Grinzane-Cavour literary award for his contribution to world literature. He passed away suddenly from a heart attack in October 2003 while waiting for a flight at Bangkok airport.