Barcelona, the city of literature

© Pep Montserrat

Barcelona has a literary calling. It’s worth remembering that it’s the capital of Spanish-language publishing and the beating heart of publishing in Catalan. It’s literary role isn’t limited to the book industry, however. It also holds a distinguished position in the literary geography of the western world. It’s the location of the final scene of Don Quixote, the first modern novel and the foundational work of the world we live in today.

Through the written word, Barcelona has created a gathering space in its healthy web of libraries, and it’s also sought to share culture through programs meant to give refuge to persecuted writers, or the cooperation agreements established with other cities across the globe. Literary festivals, writers’ schools or the Vil·la Joana House of Literature project are additional milestones for a city seeking to turn the world of books into its natural habitat.

This year, the City Hall has submitted a candidature to make Barcelona part of UNESCO’s network of Creative Cities as a City of Literature. This initiative could make it sister to a whole community of cities around the world that have made literature one of the most important pillars of their identity.

A long and fruitful publishing history, Sergio Vila-Sanjuan

Accustomed to risk: Barcelona publishing lab, Javier Aparicio Maydeu

The Kosmopolis festival and amplified literature, Carles Domènec

City of refuge for persecuted writers, Carme Arena

A space for literature and much more, Valeria Gallard

Reading the streets, Marià Marín i Torné

Coming up roses, Mathew Tree