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A review by kiwi_fruit
Catalonia: A Cultural History by Michael Eaude
5.0
A very interesting book that provides many meaningful historical insights into Catalonia’s identity. This region of Spain has a unique language and culture and stands proud of its history and traditions. The author enthusiastically champions Catalan’s independence cause, by giving examples of indigenous art and distinct history.
The author begins the book by describing the region’s origin as a land of passage, taking the reader along on an artistic journey from Roman roots in Tarragona to Romanesque churches in the Pyrenees, from the Catalan renaissance to modernisme and Barcelona's yet to be completed cathedral.
Eaude presents interesting examples of Catalonia original cultural and artistic heritage, from architecture (Puig i Cadafalch and Gaudi) and poetry (Verdaguer) and literature (Moncada and Ruiz Zafón), to painting (Rusinol, Casas, Dali, Miro and the adopted Picasso) to traditional music (sardana, havaneres and catalan rumba) and songwriting (Raimon and Peret). It also includes a chapter on local wines, like cava, traditional food and modern cuisine and another on football (Barcellona FC of course).
Eaude examines Catalonia’s history and mixes its nationalism with political activism, from Isabella’s Castilian rule to the Spanish civil war (a chapter is dedicated to describing the conflicting parties, anarchist, communists and fascists and the works of two famous foreign eye-witness: Hemingway and Orwell), through Franco’s dictatorship to today's human waves of mass tourism and economic migration.
Alas the book includes only a few images, which is a pity. This book took me a while to read as I was constantly trawling the web for information on the historical facts, people and places mentioned by the author. The book, being written in 2011, is a bit dated, but still a fascinating read and well worth the research effort.
4.5 stars
Fav. Quote:
Barcelona fell to Philip V’s army on 11 September 1714. This latter defeat led to the formal dismantling of all Catalan rights in the judiciary, education and government. Martial law, with its executions and terror, was imposed. The Generalitat was disbanded, Catalan autonomy was removed, the university was closed, citadels were built to control Lleida and Barcelona, the Catalan language was forbidden. Catalonia had lost. ... In a nation without a state, the defeats underlining that statelessness chafe at the mind like blisters under a coarse vest chafe the skin.
The author begins the book by describing the region’s origin as a land of passage, taking the reader along on an artistic journey from Roman roots in Tarragona to Romanesque churches in the Pyrenees, from the Catalan renaissance to modernisme and Barcelona's yet to be completed cathedral.
Eaude presents interesting examples of Catalonia original cultural and artistic heritage, from architecture (Puig i Cadafalch and Gaudi) and poetry (Verdaguer) and literature (Moncada and Ruiz Zafón), to painting (Rusinol, Casas, Dali, Miro and the adopted Picasso) to traditional music (sardana, havaneres and catalan rumba) and songwriting (Raimon and Peret). It also includes a chapter on local wines, like cava, traditional food and modern cuisine and another on football (Barcellona FC of course).
Eaude examines Catalonia’s history and mixes its nationalism with political activism, from Isabella’s Castilian rule to the Spanish civil war (a chapter is dedicated to describing the conflicting parties, anarchist, communists and fascists and the works of two famous foreign eye-witness: Hemingway and Orwell), through Franco’s dictatorship to today's human waves of mass tourism and economic migration.
Alas the book includes only a few images, which is a pity. This book took me a while to read as I was constantly trawling the web for information on the historical facts, people and places mentioned by the author. The book, being written in 2011, is a bit dated, but still a fascinating read and well worth the research effort.
4.5 stars
Fav. Quote:
Barcelona fell to Philip V’s army on 11 September 1714. This latter defeat led to the formal dismantling of all Catalan rights in the judiciary, education and government. Martial law, with its executions and terror, was imposed. The Generalitat was disbanded, Catalan autonomy was removed, the university was closed, citadels were built to control Lleida and Barcelona, the Catalan language was forbidden. Catalonia had lost. ... In a nation without a state, the defeats underlining that statelessness chafe at the mind like blisters under a coarse vest chafe the skin.