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Best Books on Barcelona

Learn all about Barcelona and Spain from some of the best books on the market. Read novels by Spanish authors to understand the Spanish and Catalan culture. Explore the area before you arrive through travel guides of Barcelona city.

For in depth information about moving to and living in Spain, I found the following books very useful:

Living and Working in Spain by David Hampshire

The Rough Guide to Barcelona by Jules Brown

The Rough Guide also publish a very good map of Barcelona: The Rough Guide to Barcelona Map

Manuel Vásquez Montalbán

Manuel Vásquez Montalbán's books are a must. A native of Barcelona, he was a poet and award-winning author. His series of detective novels featuring Pepe Carvalho as the gourmet private detective give a full account of Barcelona from the end of Franco's rule through the period of the Olympics and beyond. By far the best way to learn about Barcelona and the Catalan culture.

The Angst-Ridden Executive – just one of the books in the Pepe Carvalho series.

Barcelona's history

Barcelona: The Great Enchantress by Robert Hughes. The art critic Robert Hughes has been a frequent visitor to Barcelona for nearly forty years. He covers 14th century architectural treasures to the years leading up to and beyond the 1992 Summer Olympics.

And there is also Colm Tóibín's Homage to Barcelona. An account of Barcelona, from its founding to its huge growth in the 19th century. It covers the city's history, art and architecture as well as cafes, port life, restaurants and nightclubs.

Georgia Orwell's Homage to Catalonia chronicles his experiences of fighting in the Spanish Civil War. The front line in Barcelona, his near-fatal bullet wound and the hopes and disillusionment of war.

Catalan food and drink

Catalan Cuisine: Europe's Last Great Culinary Secret by Colman Andrews. An English-language book about Spain's most adventurous cuisine.

Wines of Spain by Jan Read. This book covers all of Spain's wine regions as well as Cataluña. It gives details of regional meals and the best wines to accompany them, as well as hotels and the best restaurants.

The best restaurant in Spain

El Bulli, the restaurant rated as the best in all of Spain, is close to Figueres in Cataluña. Ferrán Adriá, El Bulli's chief chef, is from Barcelona. Check out this amazingly creative cuisine with a book from the restaurant; El Bulli: 1998-2002 by Ferrán Adriá and Juli Soler. ◊

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