WE ARE MOURNING OUR FRIEND AND AUTHOR LUIS SEPÚLVEDA.

On 16th April, Luis Sepúlveda passed away in Asturias at the age of 70, having fought the coronavirus for over six weeks and having even defeated it. But some of his organs were too badly affected to be able to recover. He died after his family had given him a last farewell, without suffering.

The loss of Luis Sepúlveda affects us deeply. It’s only some months ago that we were celebrating his 70th birthday in Milan, together with his wife Carmen, his publishers, close friends and companions. It seems so unfair and senseless that Lucho had to leave us so early.

He was a remarkable person with high values and a brilliant mind. For me, one of his most outstanding qualities was his unconditional loyalty to what was important to him: friendship and respect, for humans, animals and mother nature. Very topical values he’s been defending all his lifetime. He gave a voice to those who had few people to speak for them, at a moment when nobody was paying attention to climate change, the forests of South America and their habitants.

Luis Sepúlveda was an astute analyst, calling things by their name in a plethora of short stories, novellas, novels, fables, plays, radio plays and essays. Blending adventure and poetry in texts full of humour and tenderness, he made us tremble, laugh and cry. He was a born storyteller who fascinates millions of readers in over 40 languages with his matchless talent.

Lucho came to the agency in the 80’s, after it was founded by Ray-Güde Mertin who discovered his unforgettable “An Old Man Who Read Love Stories”, which turned out to be a long-time bestseller, like his fable “The Story of a Seagull and the Cat Who Taught her to Fly” and other titles.

It was always a great honour and a deep pleasure to work with Luis Sepúlveda, an adored author and beloved friend. It was only in February that I met him and his wife Carmen in Portugal, and I found him in great shape, full of plans for finishing his new novel and for travelling. Lucho will leave a vacuum. But his thoughts and words will always be with us. The great person and visionary Luis Sepúlveda lives on in our hearts and minds forever.

Nicole Witt with the agency team

A selection of international obituaries can be found below.

ESTAMOS DE LUTO POR NUESTRO AMIGO Y AUTOR LUIS SEPÚLVEDA.

El 16 de abril, Luis Sepúlveda falleció en Asturias a la edad de 70 años, después de haber luchado contra el coronavirus durante más de seis semanas e incluso haberlo vencido. Pero algunos de sus órganos quedaron demasiado dañados para poder recuperarse. El autor murió después de que su familia le diera un último adiós, sin sufrir.

La pérdida de Luis Sepúlveda nos afecta profundamente. Hace sólo unos meses celebrábamos su 70° cumpleaños en Milán, junto con su esposa Carmen, sus editores, amigos cercanos y compañeros. Parece tan injusto y sin sentido que Lucho haya tenido que dejarnos tan pronto.

Era una persona extraordinaria, con altos valores y una mente brillante. Para mí, una de sus cualidades más destacadas era su lealtad incondicional a lo que era importante para él: la amistad y el respeto, por los humanos, los animales y la madre naturaleza. Valores muy actuales que defendió durante toda su vida. Les dio voz a aquellos que tenían pocos defensores para hablar por ellos, en un momento en que nadie se ocupaba del cambio climático, los bosques de América y sus habitantes.

Luis Sepúlveda era un analista agudo que llamaba las cosas por su nombre en sus cuentos, nouvelles, novelas, fábulas, obras de teatro, radionovelas y ensayos. Mezclando aventura y poesía en textos llenos de humor y ternura, nos hizo temblar, reír y llorar. Es un narrador nato que ha fascinado y fascina a millones de lectores en más de 50 idiomas con su inigualable talento.

Lucho llegó a la agencia en los años 80, después de que fuera fundada por Ray-Güde Mertin, quien descubrió su inolvidable “Un viejo que leía historias de amor”, que se convirtió en un best-seller y un long-seller, como su fábula “Historia de una gaviota y del gato que le enseñó a volar” y otros títulos.

Siempre fue un gran honor y un enorme placer trabajar con Luis Sepúlveda, un adorado autor y querido amigo. En el que sería nuestro último encuentro, en febrero de este año, lo vi a él y a su esposa Carmen en Portugal, y lo encontré en gran forma, con grandes planes para terminar su nueva novela y para viajar. Lucho dejará un vacío. Pero sus pensamientos y palabras siempre estarán con nosotros. La gran persona y visionario Luis Sepúlveda vivirá en nuestros corazones y mentes para siempre.

Nicole Witt con el equipo de la agencia

WE ARE MOURNING OUR FRIEND, AUTHOR AND NOBEL PRIZE WINNER JOSÉ SARAMAGO.

At 12:30 p.m. on Friday, June 18^th, José Saramago died in his home on Lanzarote at the age of 87, due to a multiple organ failure after a prolonged illness. The author died in the company of his family, taking his leave serenely and quietly.

The loss of José Saramago affects us deeply. Yet he would have wanted us to remember him as he was in life: a remarkable person, a wise man and an erudite who called things by their name – entering into controversy if necessary. His sense of justice and his deeply felt empathy for whoever needed his support was his trademark, as was his powerful prose which gave us a unique cosmos as a gift which is going to last.

José Saramago was awarded the Nobel Prize for being a great writer, one of the greatest of our times. He was committed to those who surrounded him, to the society in which he lived. He was a lighthouse in times of crisis, a fighter for those who had no one to speak for them. And José was an approachable person, somebody who knew to listen to people.

It was always a great honour and a deep pleasure to work with José, with whom we shared so many ideas and who became a friend over the years. It was only last week that I visited him and his wife Pilar at their home on Lanzarote. I found him weak but calm, in peace. There is no consolation in losing a beloved and adored person. José will leave a vacuum. At the same time, his thoughts and words will always be with us. The great person and thinker José Saramago lives on in our hearts and minds forever.

Nicole Witt with the agency team

WE ARE IN MOURNING FOR OUR BELOVED “CHEFINHA”, RAY-GÜDE MERTIN.

She died on January 13th, after having struggled so bravely against an unbeatable illness. Our memories of her energy, her dedication and her optimism are an example to us all at this difficult time, and give us the strength and courage to go on. We are very grateful for the overwhelming support we have received from you, and for all the contributions you have made to remembering Ray all over the world. Ray leaves a huge vacuum in her wake. We know how much she put into the agency, and how much she wanted us to look to the future and continue her life’s work. Rest assured that we will continue to be here for you at all times.

Nicole Witt and the team

Many authors and others close to Ray have written and published wonderful texts about her life, and what she meant and shall always mean to the world of literature. We have tried our very best to collect them all, not daring to publish here the texts which have reached us privately, and shall be grateful for any further suggestions. The opening words are those of José Saramago, a longstanding friend of Ray’s, and then, in their respective languages, links to the texts by other authors and friends in alphabetical/language order.

“Todos aqueles que escrevemos em português e em espanhol, quer na Europa, quer na América e quer em África, acabámos de perder, não só uma grande amiga, mas também uma agente literária absolutamente fora do comum. Mesmo os autores daquelas partes do mundo que não estiveram representados por Ray-Güde Mertin acabaram por beneficiar indirectamente do influxo positivo do trabalho por ela desenvolvido durante quase trinta anos de actividade organizada, contínua e pertinaz a favor da difusão dos autores e das literaturas a que pertenciam. Negociadora ao mesmo tempo implacável e subtil defendeu os interesses dos autores melhor do que fossem os seus próprios. Amiga e companheira de todos e de cada um, deixa uma lembrança que nunca se apagará. Também a coragem com que enfrentou a doença deverá constituir para nós uma lição de impecável dignidade. Assim a recordarei eu sempre.”

José Saramago