Miquel Àngel Riera

National Award for Catalan Literature, 1988

The Gods Inaccessible (Els déus inaccessibles) narrates the clandestine love of a rural priest for a young man, Alexis, through the clash between religious vows and the force of passion. From the candid intimacy of his personal journal, the protagonist describes the experience of falling in love with the tense allure of unrequited desire. Divided between his moral self and the passion that makes him feel guilty, the priest turns love into a sanctuary detached from reality.

Miquel Àngel Riera analyzes the human need for love and beauty, emphasizing the ongoing theme of misunderstanding and lack of communication between human beings.