Why Catalans insist on their identity. The tragic fate of the millenary personality of Catalonia has rarely been fully appreciated abroad. Since the early eighteenth century its national voice has been submerged and fractured by a centralist state intent on its arbitrary, unitarian vision of a homogenized Spain. Catalan difference has emerged sporadically in the persons of such irrepressible geniuses as Gaudi, Dali, Miro and Bigas Luna but, in the configuration of modern Europe, the relentlessinevitability of the unified state has imposed and re-imposed its singular cultural voice. The present volume attempts to equip the English-speaking reader with a fuller understanding of the uniqueness and quality of the culture of Catalonia by providing a comprehensive portfolio of the creative contribution of the nation across a broad spectrum of achievement. Though the artistic wealth of the medieval period is acknowledged appropriately, this study, with its focus on the modern age, privileges excellence not only in the more conventional, academic spheres of history, music, language, literature and the arts but also explores the value of more basic, popular experience inareas such as sport, cinema, festivals, cuisine and the city of Barcelona. DOMINIC KEOWN is Reader in Catalan at the University of Cambridge. CONTRIBUTORS: Elisenda Barbe, Robert Davidson, Alexander Ibarz, Louise Johnson, Dominic Keown, Tess Knighton, Jaume Marti-Olivella, Dorothy Noyes, Montserrat Roser i Puig, Antoni Segura, Miquel Strubell.

About the Author
TESS KNIGHTON is an ICREA Research Professor affiliated to the Institucio Mila i Fontanals-CSIC in Barcelona and an Emeritus Fellow of Clare College, Cambridge.

Reviews
A lively and informative volume that covers a wide range of aspects of Catalan culture ... Currently the only book on the market that provides this sort of introductory overview of contemporary Catalan culture, it should become a key text for undergraduate courses especially ... a solid and dependable companion. * BULLETIN OF SPANISH STUDIES *
A much-needed and timely step in the right direction for Catalan Studies. * HISPANIA *
[The editor] has given 'lay' readers of English an accessible introduction to the country's history and culture. Second, he has but provided his colleagues in the field of Catalan Studies with a very solid conceptual base for future growth and innovation. The editor and his collaborators should be warmly saluted for carrying out this very important work. * CATALAN REVIEW *
In summary [...] for any student, or academic, studying Hispania.it is a must read. * REFERENCE REVIEWS *
[T]his relatively brief volume is succinct and impressively complete. It covers a broad range of topics, each treated with care by its author. [...] The contributors offer masterful syntheses and sharp analyses of complex issues. [...] Informative, insightful, and engaging, this volume will interest readers in search of a general survey. * CHOICE *



Book Information
ISBN 9781855662278
Author Dominic Keown
Format Hardback
Page Count 282
Imprint Tamesis Books
Publisher Boydell & Brewer Ltd
Weight(grams) 1g