Maria del Pilar Maspons i Labrós

Maria del Pilar Maspons i Labrós (1841 in Barcelona – 1907 Barcelona) was a Spanish poet, novelist and writer of Catalan descent. Writing under the pseudonym Maria de Bell-lloc (sometimes spelled Bell-lloch), that she used her entire career, she is notable as one of the first Spanish women folklorists and the first woman novelist to be published in Catalan.

Biography Maria de Bell-lloc (in English: Maria of the Beautiful Place) was a writer of the Renaissance Catalan period and was very active from her start in 1865. She was influenced by trends in this movement, which became known for romanticism of medieval characters, patriotism and traditionalism. She was also one of the first folklorist women, conducting field work to collect and transcribe Catalan legends and ethnographic narratives that she later recreated and edited.

Maria wrote about her Catalan heritage and her stories and poems were set in the themes and landscapes of the Vallès region near Barcelona, Spain. It was a place that was very dear to her as the Maspons family owned the manor house at Bigues and often visited there. Narracions y llegendas (Stories and Legends) (1875) Vigatans y botiflers, novela histórica (Loyalists and Traitors, historical novel) (1878) Montseny (1880), a collection of six legends about this mountain. Llegendas catalanas (Catalan legends) (1881) Costums i tradicions del Vallès (Customs and traditions of the Vallès) (1882), with a first part dedicated to the description of customs, beliefs and popular festivals, and a second part with 22 legends about places in the Vallès region. Elisabeth de Mur (Elizabeth of Mur) (1924), which included more than 70 stories and narratives. Poesies (Poems, undated)

Awards While she did not receive any prizes for her poetry, she did earn several for other writing.

First accession to the jasmine of silver in Lleida in 1869. Special Mention at the Floral Games literary competition of Barcelona in 1875, for Narrations and legends. Artistic and Allegorical Jewel award of the Catalan Excursions Association in 1880 for her collection of legends titled Montseny. Scientific-Literary Prize of the Granoller's Casino in 1882 for a collection of stories, Costums i tradicions del Vallès (Customs and Traditions of the Vallès).