Nuria Bendicho’s Dead Lands in the QM Catalan Book Club

In September 2025, a new session of the Queen Mary Catalan Book Club took place, this time dedicated to Dead Lands (Terres mortes) by Núria Bendicho. The event was particularly enriching, as we were joined by the author herself, as well as Maruxa Relaño, translator of the English edition.

Readers discussed key aspects of the novel such as the harshness of the rural world it portrays, violence—both explicit and implicit—silence, family relationships, and the connection between the female characters and the space they inhabit. Attention was also given to the oppressive atmosphere of the text and to the role language plays in constructing this dark and suffocating universe.

Núria Bendicho then answered questions from the audience and reflected on the novel’s central themes, including marginality, solitude, and everyday brutality. She also spoke about her writing process, the importance of landscape and tone, and her literary influences. In turn, Maruxa Relaño shared her experience of translating Terres mortes into English, discussing the challenges of conveying Bendicho’s stark and precise voice in another language, as well as the choices made to preserve the stylistic and emotional force of the original text.

Overall, it was an intense and stimulating conversation about a powerful novel, enriched by the active participation of the attendees and the open dialogue with both the author and the translator.