The writer and Basque native Txomin Peillen dies at the age of 90

Euskaraz irakurri: Txomin Peillen idazle eta euskaltzaina hill da, 90 urte zituela

The writer and Euskaltzaina Txomin Peillen Karribur (Paris, 1932) has died at the age of 90. His prolific production covers more than 45 works, including novels, essays and short stories.

The first work he published was the novel “Gauaz ibildana” and his last novel was “Minotaur”published in 2021 by Alberdania, about incest and pedophilia.

In 1962, together with Jon Mirande, he founded the heterodox Basque magazine Igela. Close to Zaitegi, Ibigañabeitia, Mitxelena and Aresti, Txomin Peillen served as a bridge between generations and Basque peoples. He has also recognized the paternity of modern Basque literature, along with Mirande and Aresti.

You can listen here Biography (original in Basque).

Txomin Peillen was born on November 17, 1932 in Paris. The son of Suletino parents, he defined himself as “a Basque-speaking Parisian”. He spent two years of World War I in Zuberoa with his mother and his brother, but lived in Paris for the first half of his life.

He earned degrees in biology, Hispanic philology and educational sciences at the Sorbonne University. Later he received a doctorate in basque philology in Bordeaux. During his years as a teacher at a Paris high school, he also taught at the University of Pau and Baiona.

He was a prolific writer and added works in most literary genres: crime novels, short stories, poetry, children’s literature, dissemination, essay… He published, among others, “Zaldi beltzak zeruan”, “Izal Gorria”, “Mende joanaz “, “Kristina Bolsward”, “Animismua Zuberoan” and “Biziaren hiztegiaz”.

His wife was the architect of many of the covers of his books.

He obtained various awards such as the Manuel Lekuona and Txomin Agirre awards and was an honorary member of the Euskal Pen association. Linked to Euskaltzaindia since the 1960s, he was named academic number in 1988.