The city in novels

Manel Andreu

Il·lustracions: Manel Andreu

The debate surrounding the great Barcelona novel has been marred by absurd rivalry. It is not a question of deciding whether the best novels have been written in Catalan or Spanish, but rather of attesting to both languages’ mutual influence. This dossier reveals that Ruiz Zafón reads Narcís Oller and Mercè Rodoreda; that Montero Glez admires Vallmitjana and Sagarra; that Carmen Laforet can be read in parallel with Mercè Rodoreda or Jaume Cabré; and that the Barcelonas of Marsé and Mendoza are present and alive in the collective imagery and in the real Barcelona.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *