Barcelona tells the story of the growth of this Mediterranean metropolis in relation to Catalunya to the rest of Spain and to Europe and America, more than 1,500 years of civic existence. A history keyed to the stones of the city, Hughes's account is rich in political, economic and military drama, and the play of remarkable personalities. The book introduces the reader to Barcelona's painting, sculpture, poetry, folklore, traditional crafts, language, opera, clothes and food - and addresses the intriguing question of what it is about the Catalans that makes them at once so unSpanish and so Spanish and so consistently up to date.
