Description
ELADI GARDO I FERRER
Book Summary
This work recovers the figure of Eladi Gardó i Ferrer (Barcelona, 1874-1958), a Catalan cooperativist, lawyer, and republican politician who represents the paradigm of the worker who, through study and personal effort, managed to transcend his social class. The reader will discover an activist, organizer, and key propagandist of the Catalan cooperative movement, whose work in founding the Regional Chamber of Cooperatives of Catalonia and the Balearic Islands and his presidency of the Regional Federation of Cooperatives of Catalonia (1920-1923) were fundamental. The book unravels his political trajectory, from freethought to the Radical Republican Party, and his role as a councilman in the Barcelona City Council, offering a complete vision of a hitherto little-known figure.
What is it about?
The book recounts the life and work of Eladi Gardó i Ferrer, a multifaceted personality who dedicated his life to the cooperative movement and republican politics in Catalonia. At the end of the 19th century, he participated actively in the founding of the Regional Chamber of Cooperatives of Catalonia and the Balearic Islands, laying the foundations of the Catalan cooperative movement. Later, he distinguished himself for his campaigns in favor of joint purchasing and the creation of workers' cooperatives for the construction of affordable housing. In 1902, he was one of the founders of the Ateneu Enciclopèdic Popular. His political activity began in freethought, moved to socialism, and finally, he joined the Radical Republican Party, serving as a councilman in the Barcelona City Council between 1915 and 1920. Despite his importance, Gardó was a little-known figure, especially during the Second Republic, and this work seeks to rescue his legacy.
Main themes
- History of the Catalan cooperative movement
- Biography of a political and social activist
- Labor movement and class struggle in early 20th-century Catalonia
- Republican politics and freethought
- Founding and development of cooperative and cultural institutions
Who is it recommended for?
This book is aimed at readers interested in the social and political history of Catalonia, especially the cooperative and labor movements. It is also suitable for those looking for biographies of little-known but influential figures, as well as for students and researchers of contemporary history and cooperativism.
What this book contributes
- Recovers and highlights the figure of a pioneer of the Catalan cooperative movement, offering a detailed vision of his life and work.
- Provides historical context on the development of the cooperative and republican movement in Catalonia at the turn of the century.
- Allows an understanding of how personal effort and activism can transcend social class barriers.
Technical specifications
- Author: IBARZ GELABERT, JORDI
- Publisher: COSSETANIA
- Language: cat
- Subject: BIOGRAPHY: HISTORICAL, POLITICAL AND MILITARY, POLITICAL ACTIVISM
- Collection: COOPERATIVISTES CATA
- Binding: Paperback
- Publication date: October 2021
- Number of pages: 104
- Weight: 307 g
Editorial review
This is a rigorous work of historical dissemination that fills a void in the knowledge of the Catalan cooperative movement. Jordi Ibarz Gelabert offers a concise but complete biography, ideal for anyone wishing to learn about a relevant but forgotten figure. It is recommended reading to understand the roots of the cooperative movement and its intersection with republican politics in early 20th-century Catalonia.