25/02/2009
Vitoria-Gasteiz,
February 25, 2009 – Bilbao writer José Luis Urrutia will
be the protagonist tomorrow of a new conference in the Encounters with
the Cathedral series. The conference, entitled Anonymous characters:
history’s true protagonists, is being organised by Fundación Catedral
Santa María, will begin at 8:00 at Palacio de Villa Suso and is free of
charge.
Tomorrow, the conference series that Fundación Catedral Santa Maria is
dedicating this winter to the historical novel will feature José Luis
Urrutia, who will take over from last week’s lecturer, Cordovan writer
José Calvo Poyato.
Born in Bilbao in 1958, José Luis Urrutia took his
first steps in the world of literature in poetry, the genre of the work
he published in 1981 entitled Sangre enamorada [Enamoured blood].
Nevertheless, in his following work he inclined towards the short story
until initiating a new stage in 1988 in the world of the historical
novel, a genre in which he has continued to work since then.
Urrutia’s first novel introduced a character whose experiences have
spanned four volumes: Elías de Aldama. Prominent among his latest
novels are César Borgia. El hijo del Papa [César Borgia. Son of the
Pope] (2008), El inquilino del balneario de Orduña [The tenant of the
spa in Orduña] (2006), La sombre de Lanzuri. El Ayalés [Lanzuri’s
shadow. The man from Ayala] (2006) and Ignacio. Los años de la espada
[Ignacio. The years of the sword] (2005). He also took part last year
in the anthology of Basque-Canary writers entitled 2.050 kilometros de
palabras [2,050 kilometres of words] published by Baile del Sol.
Urrutia’s short stories have appeared in the Lecturas entre paradas and
Lecturas en el Arenal collections and he has also dedicated part of his
efforts to scriptwriting, prominent among which are theatricalised
visits to the City of Orduña for the 2008 European Historic Heritage
Workshops.
Urrutia has also written comics, among them El secreto de las piedras
rojas [The secret of the red stones], a tourist-cultural project
promoted by the Municipal Council of Arrigorriaga (Biscay), and
collaborates with Aunia and Neu magazines. Furthermore, he combines his
writing with creating and promoting cultural activities, lectures,
conferences and his participation as a jury member in literary
competitions.
José Luis Urrutia’s conference will begin at 8:00 p.m. at
Palacio de Villa Suso. Admission will be free until seating capacity
has been reached, although members of Santa María Cathedral’s Founders
Circle will have priority admission until 7:45 p.m..