Description
MARIA DOMENECH DE CAÑELLAS (1874-1952)
Book summary
This work is the definitive biography of Maria Domènech de Cañellas, a key figure in the social and literary history of Catalonia. Based on the discovery of her personal archive, the author reconstructs the life of a woman who was a writer, sociologist, and activist. The reader will discover her role as the founder of the Federació Sindical d'Obreres (Women's Trade Union Federation), her work as a labor inspector, and her tireless fight for the rights of working women. A portrait that restores a voice to a pioneer who combined social commitment with a deep literary vocation.
What is it about?
The book covers the life, intellectual, and social trajectory of Maria Domènech de Cañellas (1874-1952). Through unpublished documentation from her personal archive, it reveals her social commitment, which led her to found the Federació Sindical d'Obreres in 1912, a pioneering organization for the training and protection of working women. The work analyzes her role as an assistant labor inspector in 1918, her active collaboration in the 1929 Barcelona International Exposition, and her conferences and articles in defense of the regulation of home-based work. Furthermore, it explores her literary side, marked by a moralizing intent, which encompasses poetry, novels, short stories, and theater. The biography reconstructs the struggle of a woman determined to influence her time with intelligence, perseverance, and justice.
Main themes
- Biography of a pioneer of social feminism and female trade unionism in Catalonia.
- History of the labor movement and the fight for women's labor rights at the beginning of the 20th century.
- Analysis of Maria Domènech de Cañellas's literary work and its moralizing function.
- The role of women in the public sphere: social activism, politics, and culture.
- Recovery of historical memory through the discovery of a personal archive.
Who is it recommended for?
This book is aimed at readers interested in biographies of prominent women, the social history of Catalonia, gender studies, and feminism. It will also be of great interest to those researching the labor movement, female trade unionism, and early 20th-century Catalan literature. It is an essential read for anyone who wants to know the legacy of a figure who fought for social justice and equality.
What this book offers
- A complete and documented vision of the life and work of a historical figure hitherto little known.
- A detailed analysis of her social activism and her contribution to female trade unionism.
- The recovery of her literary legacy, with references to her poetry, novels, and theater.
- A unique perspective on the fight for the rights of working women in early 20th-century Catalonia.
- A reference work for understanding the intersection between literature, social activism, and historical feminism.
Technical specifications
- Author: MACIAS ROQUETA, AIDA
- Publisher: Cossetània
- Language: cat
- Topic: BIOGRAPHY: LITERARY
- Collection: PERFILS
- Publication date: October 2025
- Number of pages: 312
- Weight: 480 g
Editorial review
This biography stands out for its documentary rigor, based on the finding of a personal archive that sheds new light on a relevant but little-studied figure. The work successfully balances the analysis of Maria Domènech de Cañellas's social and political trajectory with the study of her literary production, offering a multifaceted portrait of an exceptional woman. It is a valuable contribution to the social and literary history of Catalonia that will interest both specialists and general readers.