Publisher's Synopsis
"... a diverse collection of translations of 20th-century Catalan prose writings... This exploration reveals the achievements of a distinct culture flourishing within Spain and introduces to English readers the work of Catalonia's modern writers.... This title is an entertaining and well-conceived introduction to a relatively unknown culture." -Library Journal
"Those seeking direct access to the region's literary culture should turn to Catalonia: A Self-Portrait..." -The Philadelphia Enquirer
Some of this century's greatest names in Western art have been Catalan: architect Antoni Gaudì, painters Salvador Dalì and Joan Miró, cellist Pablo Casals, and singer Victoria de los Angeles, to name just a few. Catalonia's writers, however, are little known beyond the borders of the country, even though they are comparable in stature to their colleagues in the other arts. Catalonia, A Self-Portrait narrates a tale of extraordinary literary and artistic achievements by a minority culture that thrives within the larger, dominant cultures of Spain and Europe. The selections, twentieth-century Catalan classics, deal with contemporary Catalonia and its people, including some of the outstanding figures named above.
