Since 1714 Catalan culture has had a troubled relationship with the Spanish state, which sometimes tolerated and sometimes repressed it. Nevertheless Catalan writing experienced a renaissance in the 1830s, and by the turn of the century had formed bridges with wider European culture through Modernisme. Under the banner of Noucentisme's call to order, Catalan writing became institutionalised in the early 20th century, only to become a culture of resistance or exile again under the dictatorships of Primo de Rivera and Franco. After 1939, as after 1714, new forms of narrative only gradually emerged from a time of crisis, but led ultimately to a great blossoming of Catalan fiction after Spain's transition into democracy and membership of the European Union.

This invaluable volume applies a range of theoretical perspectives to the work of modern and contemporary Catalan writers, from Narc s Oller (1846-1930) to leading women writers such as Caterina Albert (1869-1966) and Merc Rodoreda (1908-83) and to some of the postmodern masters -- authors who, though valued by their fellow novelists across Europe, are still too little known outside Catalonia.

Jordi Larios is Professor of Spanish Studies at the University of St Andrews, and Montserrat Lunati is Honorary Senior Research Fellow at Cardiff University and Honorary Reader at the University of St Andrews.