This title offers a profound exploration of Catalonia’s rich poetic tradition, tracing its origins, influences, and thematic evolution over centuries. This collection is not merely a representative sample but a carefully curated selection of poems that embody what the editor perceives as the enduring essence of Catalan lyricism. Catalan poetry, the editor argues, contains a latent energy, waiting to be unleashed by the reader. This anthology aims to revitalize that energy, presenting poems that carry forward the spirit of their creation and evoke universal human experiences, from love and sorrow to spiritual longing and communal pride.
The anthology highlights Catalonia’s unique cultural and historical circumstances, which have shaped its poetic voice. From early influences by Provençal troubadours to Italian Renaissance currents, Catalan poetry has consistently evolved, absorbing foreign influences while maintaining a distinctive Mediterranean character marked by simplicity, balance, and a humanistic worldview. Through centuries of cultural suppression and resurgence, Catalan lyric poetry has preserved its vitality, reflecting the resilience of Catalonia’s people and language. Emphasizing themes of spirituality, human love, and the landscapes of Catalonia, the poetry gathered here captures the region’s soul, celebrating its contributions to both Catalan identity and universal literature.
This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1953.