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Books set in Barcelona

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  • 14-08-2009 1:00pm
    #1
    Meathlass
    Registered Users Posts: 3,023 ✭✭✭


    Organising my travel reading leading up to my holidays in Barcelona this oct. I aways read books set in the city or by authors from or who lived in that city to get a feel of the place before I go and when I'm there. Anyone any suggestions. Fiction/Non-fiction/History/Political/Sport/Cultural - I don't mind, i'll read them all.


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    #2
    GymJim
    Registered Users Posts: 448 ✭✭GymJim


    shadow of the wind?


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    #3
    2040
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,300 ✭✭✭2040


    Orwell's Homage to Catalonia maybe. I havn't read it myself but i've heard it's a good book to read while there. I think the Timeout Guide to Barcelona might have advised it. They always provide a cultural background in their guides. Enjoy Barcelona. Beautiful city.


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    #4
    Meathlass
    Registered Users Posts: 3,023 ✭✭✭Meathlass


    GymJim wrote: »
    shadow of the wind?

    Thanks for that suggestion, who's the author of that again. Carlos something?


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    #5
    Locamon
    Closed Accounts Posts: 363 ✭✭Locamon


    Meathlass wrote: »
    Thanks for that suggestion, who's the author of that again. Carlos something?

    Read this book while I was in Barcelona gives a great feel for the city and you can visit many of the places listed -Carlos Ruiz Zafón


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    #6
    zesman
    Closed Accounts Posts: 92 ✭✭zesman


    You could try No Word from Gurb by Eduardo Mendoza,. Guaranteed to have you in tears laughing


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    #7
    Saint Ruth
    Registered Users Posts: 143 ✭✭Saint Ruth


    The South - Colm Toibin...


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    #8
    dudara
    Registered Users Posts: 33,518 ✭✭✭✭dudara


    GymJim wrote: »
    shadow of the wind?


    Big plus for this one. I read it after visiting Barcelona and it reminded me of the whole city very vividly.

    You could also try Hemmingway's "The Sun Also Rises" - I know it's set in Pamplona but it really gave me the spanish vibe.


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    #9
    two wheels good
    Registered Users Posts: 1,996 ✭✭✭two wheels good


    Hi
    If you have any interest in recent Spanish history and the Civil War you could try anything written by Paul Preston or Anthony Beevor on the subject.

    The solidarity amongst the Catalans (and Basques, and Andalucians too) was remarkable.

    D


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    #10
    Locamon
    Closed Accounts Posts: 363 ✭✭Locamon


    two wheels good wrote: »
    Hi
    If you have any interest in recent Spanish history and the Civil War you could try anything written by Paul Preston or Anthony Beevor on the subject.

    The solidarity amongst the Catalans (and Basques, and Andalucians too) was remarkable.

    D

    not exactly cheerful holiday reading... more a lesson in don't get into bed with commies -the cure is worse than the illness:D


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    #11
    two wheels good
    Registered Users Posts: 1,996 ✭✭✭two wheels good


    Locamon wrote: »
    not exactly cheerful holiday reading... more a lesson in don't get into bed with commies -the cure is worse than the illness:D

    Certainly not cheerful reading.
    When Britain and France failed to help Spanish democracy in the face of a fascist coup it's no surprise that the Spanish left turned to Russia for help.

    I'm not sure what "cure" you refer to - but I suspect some reading-up on the subject might help resolve some of your misconceptions.

    D


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    #12
    KevinH
    Closed Accounts Posts: 72 ✭✭KevinH


    two wheels good wrote: »
    Certainly not cheerful reading.
    When Britain and France failed to help Spanish democracy in the face of a fascist coup it's no surprise that the Spanish left turned to Russia for help.

    I'm not sure what "cure" you refer to - but I suspect some reading-up on the subject might help resolve some of your misconceptions.

    D

    In Homage to Catalonia (a great novel by the way) Orwell suggests that the Russians and the Spanish communists hung the socialists and anarchists (who did most of the fighting) out to dry because Stalin didn't want to upset the French.

    I'm not sure of the historical accuracy of that but it certainly seems believable.


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