Carles Casajuana presents La guerra dins la guerra, probing Catalan identity

Carles Casajuana, born in Sant Cugat del Vallès in 1954, combines a long career in the Spanish diplomatic service with a substantial literary output. A career diplomat and former ambassador to Greece, the United Kingdom and Malaysia, he has published more than a dozen books and won the Ramon Llull prize in 2009. He recently presented his latest novel, La guerra dins la guerra, in Andorra.

Casajuana says his move from reading to writing began in student years and intensified after he passed the diplomatic exams. Diplomatic postings, he adds, create distance and time that can be conducive to literary work. His first novel emerged after close collaboration with editor Jaume Cornudella; an early contact with the Quaderns Crema imprint led to editorial work before publication rather than immediate acceptance.

La guerra dins la guerra uses writers as characters to explore Catalan culture and the coexistence of Catalan and Spanish. Set in Barcelona in 2019 and observed in part through an expatriate perspective, the novel is structured in layers—Casajuana likens it to puff pastry—and probes questions of Catalan identity, the construction of fiction, limits of teacher–student relationships, and the parallel existence of Catalan and Spanish literatures. He also frames the social climate after the independence process by drawing comparisons with the events of May 1937, suggesting different eras can reflect similar social realities.

On the political aftermath of the independence process, Casajuana argues that longstanding issues between Catalonia and Spain—language, identity, fiscal arrangements and the scope of autonomy—remain unresolved. He says the recent debate focused visibly on independence but failed to address those deeper questions. While he warns tensions could re-emerge if substantive issues are not settled, he does not expect a revival within the current generation and considers the 2006 Statute of Autonomy an appropriate framework for resolving many of those matters.

Casajuana has reflected on literary prizes and the publishing industry, noting the ceremonial value of awards even as the market increasingly governs editorial decisions. He believes prizes for already published work should carry greater prestige and describes publishing as a balancing act between literary merit and commercial realities, where quality and large readerships do not always coincide.

A regular contributor of opinion pieces to La Vanguardia, Casajuana defends the role of measured, reflective commentary in a media environment dominated by rapid social media reaction and sensational headlines. He acknowledges many of his readers are older but contends that thoughtful articles, even when read by minorities, can still generate meaningful debate; he also recognises that other platforms now host similar public reflection.

Asked about Andorra’s place in Europe, he welcomed the principality’s partial integration with the EU and noted ongoing discussions about the degree of that integration. He compared the EU to a club with unequal rights and obligations among members and said it is for Andorrans to judge whether closer ties are worthwhile. Personally, he said, he would like to see Andorra more fully integrated into the EU, but insists the decision belongs to its citizens.