Gabriel Ferrater

Gabriel Ferrater was not a literary critic or a historian of literature, but it would be difficult to find someone who had a more significant impact on shaping the canon of modern Catalan literature or who contributed more decisively to enriching the interpretation of poets like Carner, Riba, or Foix. The explanation for this paradox can be found in these Papers on Literature, which include many previously unpublished or lesser-known pages. They are heterogeneous writings (articles, prefaces, dictionary entries, contributions to others' books, public or private letters, reading notes, or diary entries), but they all originated from the intelligence of a unique, lucid, and brilliant reader, equipped with a rich background that allowed him to establish illuminating connections. This volume makes a major contribution to understanding certain aspects of Catalan and world literature. It is also, of course, the best exposition of the literary thought and individual positions of a writer who had the gift of always saying interesting things when it came to talking about books.