Alfred Bosch
Professor of History of Africa, Pompeu Fabra University
Email: alfred.bosch@upf.edu
Alfred Bosch is a award-winning fiction writer and professor of History of Africa at the Pompeu Fabra University. He has published essays related to development and international politics, and worked as an international correspondent and analyst in conflict areas around the world. He also served in the organization of the Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games as well as other public-oriented projects. His main activity is currently focused on literary creation, which has earned him major recognition among readers and critics.
The work of professor Bosch extends beyond traditional genre categories, to include fiction, non-fiction and journalism, while combining the fruits of several disciplines. Having spent years visiting conflict areas around the world, he has produced a producing a broad collection of press articles. His study of the intense trials and joys of Africa led to the publication of books like Nelson Mandela, el último hombre-dios (Nelson Mandela, The Last of the Titans, 1995), La vía africana (The African Path, 1998), and El Imperio que nunca existió (The Empire Which Never Was, 2001). In 2002, he published Europa sense Embuts (No-Nonsense Europe), a frank and witty vision of European society. Before coming to Chicago, Bosch lectured and taught classes on African History at Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona.
His first novel, El Atlas Furtivo (The Furtive Atlas, 1998) earned him the coveted Sant Jordi prize in Catalan literature, and established his reputation as a novelist. He had previously published selections and short stories set in transition South Africa in Cronicalia (1986) and Herois d'Azània. He thereafter published Alia la Sublime (Alia the Sublime, 2000), L'Avi (2001), and an epic trilogy: 1714, Sed de rey (Thirst for Royalty) / 1714, Bajo la piel del diablo (Under the Devil's Skin) / 1714, Toque de queda (Night Call). With Los Siete Aromas del Mundo(The Seven Aromas of the World), Bosch received the Premio Ramon Llull, the most prestigious award in Catalan letters. His work combines a strong historical ambiance with elements of adventure, suspense and travelogue, as well as other narrative modes. A number of his books in Catalan have been translated and received international acclaim.