Description
NOVELS
Book Summary
This second volume of the Complete Works of Josep A. Baixeras brings together the two novels he wrote and published, separated by more than three decades but united by the same narrative project. The reader will find a work that constructs the literary myth of Castellet, a city behind which Tarragona is hidden, and which portrays the evolution of a society that languishes under Francoism while advancing toward industrialization, the arrival of immigrants, and the fight for democracy. An edition that includes the original prologue by Josep M. Llompart and an introductory study by Jordi Tiñena.
What is it about?
The volume collects two novels that, despite their chronological distance, function as a narrative continuum. L'anell al dit (1964), a finalist for the Sant Jordi Prize, begins the saga of Castellet, a city that reflects the bleakness of Francoism and its contradictions. Les Mares (1995) returns to that universe three decades later, showing the urban and social transformation: industrialization, the construction of peripheral neighborhoods for immigrants, and the fight for democracy. Together, both novels build a literary fresco about memory, the passage of time, and the identity of a community.
Main themes
- The construction of a city's literary myth (Castellet / Tarragona)
- Social and urban evolution during Francoism and the transition
- Industrialization and the arrival of immigrants to the periphery
- The fight for democracy and cultural and political activism
- Historical memory and the passage of time in a community
Who is it recommended for?
For readers interested in contemporary Catalan narrative, especially those who appreciate literary sagas that portray the social transformation of a city. Also for scholars of the work of Josep A. Baixeras and for those looking for a read that combines social realism with the construction of a unique literary universe.
What this book offers
- Complete access to the two key novels by Josep A. Baixeras in a single volume
- A panoramic view of the social and urban evolution of a Catalan city during the 20th century
- Context and analysis thanks to the introductory study by Jordi Tiñena and the original prologue by Josep M. Llompart
- The possibility of following a unified narrative project that spans three decades of literary creation
Technical specifications
- Author: Baixeras, Josep A.
- Publisher: Cosset·nia
- Language: Catalan
- Subject: Classic fiction
- Collection: Josep A. Baixeras. Complete Works
- Binding: Hardcover
- Publication date: November 2012
- Number of pages: 528
- Weight: 1156 g
Editorial review
This volume is of interest both to followers of the work of Josep A. Baixeras and to those who wish to delve into a narrative that combines social portraiture with the construction of a unique literary universe. The temporal distance between both novels allows one to appreciate the author's evolution and, at the same time, the coherence of his narrative project. The inclusion of complementary materials (prologue and introductory study) adds value for a more informed and contextualized reading.