Maria Perpinyà i Sais (Verges 1901 – Banyoles 1994)
A writer, journalist, and translator, she became known from 1925 onwards following several publications in the press.
Maria revised the language of the Verges Procession, adapting it to be more understandable without losing its rigor or originality. In 1977, her poem “Dance of Death in Verges” was set to music, and the event was broadcast on the second television channel.
She authored the books Poemes (Poems, 1931) and Terra de Vent (Land of Wind, 1936). Her notable collaborations include publications such as: D’Ací i d’Allà, Ciutat, La Nau, Esplai, Llegiu-me, Joia, La Revista, El Dia (Terrassa), La Nova Revista, La Veu de Catalunya. According to some sources, she also contributed to: Revista d’Olot, Diari de Mataró, L’Avi Munné (Sant Feliu de Guíxols), Aires de la Conca (Montblanc), and La Riuada (Mora d’Ebre).
She was an editor for the Catholic newspaper El Matí. She was also a member of AF, APEC, and the women’s section of the Democratic Union of Catalonia (UDC). In 1930, she signed the women’s pro-amnesty manifesto.
She also dedicated herself to giving poetry recitals at various institutions, as well as translating, especially from French, and proofreading Catalan texts.
In 1948, she won the Accèssit a la Viola d’Or (Runner-up to the Golden Violet) at the Jocs Florals (Floral Games) held in Paris, with the poem “A la Verge de Montserrat” (To the Virgin of Montserrat).
The Civil War cut her career short. After the war, she became increasingly withdrawn, and although she continued to write into old age, she only published a few poems in “Les Cinc Branques” (The Five Branches, 1975) and in the collection 31 poetes d’avui (31 Poets of Today, 1977). She left behind 8 unpublished books of poetry and two novels.
In November 2009, the book “Antologia de poemes – Maria Perpinyà” (Anthology of Poems – Maria Perpinyà) was published as part of the Josep Pla collection by the Girona Provincial Council.
