Further Reading
Good Companions
English translations of Catalan works of literature are few, and are difficult to find in Barcelona.
The Angel’s Game, by Carlos Ruiz Zafón. Set in 1920s Barcelona, this thriller will please Zafón’s many fans.
Barcelona, by Robert Hughes. Describes the city’s development in relation to the rest of Catalonia, Spain and Europe. Good on Gaudí and modernisme.
Barcelona: A Guide to Recent Architecture, by Suzanna Strum. A look at some of the city’s stunning buildings.
Barcelona the Great Enchantress, by Robert Hughes. A shorter version of his earlier work (see above); particularly good on architecture.
Barcelonas, by Manuel Vázquez Montalbán. Chatty book covering culture, design, history and some of the city’s personalities.
Catalan Cuisine, by Colman Andrews. Describes the unique aspects of Catalan cooking; good recipes.
The Cathedral of the Sea, by Ildefonso Falcones. A novel woven around the construction of Santa Maria del Mar in medieval Barcelona.
The City of Marvels (La Ciudad de los Prodigios), by Eduardo Mendoza. Novel about an unscrupulous young man determined to succeed in Barcelona.
Forbidden Territory, by Juan Goytisolo. Autobiography by one of Spain’s most important writers.
Gaudí: A Biography, by Gijs van Hensbergen. For anyone who wants to delve deeper into the life of Barcelona’s extraordinary architect, written by a Gaudí expert.
Homage to Barcelona, by Colm Toíbîn. An interesting, personal view from this Irish novelist who once lived in Barcelona.
Homage to Catalonia, by George Orwell. Famous account of the author’s experiences in the Spanish Civil War.
No Word from Gurb, by Eduardo Mendoza. Entertaining novel by one of Spain’s best contemporary writers about an extraterrestrial who has disappeared in the backstreets of Barcelona.
Saving Picasso, by Mark Skeet. A pacey spy novel set in a fictional 1940s Barcelona where the Communists won the Civil War and Franco is dead.
The Shadow of the Wind, by Carlos Ruiz Zafón; translation by Lucia Graves. Read the novel set in Barcelona then discover its places in a walking tour.
The Time of the Doves, by Mercè Rodoreda. Translation of the classic Catalan novel La Plaça del Diamant set in the Spanish Civil War. Visit the eponymous square in Gràcia where the novel took place.
Teach Yourself Catalan, Hodder Arnold. Classic series of language learning books.
Other Insight Guides
The Insight Guides series includes several books on Spain and its islands, all combining the exciting pictures and incisive text associated with this series.
Insight Guides
Insight Guide: Spain contains top photography and complete background reading. The smaller format Insight Regional Guide: Southern Spain provides comprehensive coverage of the Costa del Sol and Andalucía, from the white towns of the sierras to vibrant Seville.
Insight Fleximaps
Insight Fleximap: Barcelona is a durable laminated map, with a list of recommended sights.
Insight Guides: Explore
Barcelona is one of the titles in Insight’s brand new Explore series. These books provide a series of themed and timed routes, with recommended stops for lunch. The routes are plotted on an accompanying pull-out map.