verdaguer

Closures between Bogatell, Barceloneta and Verdaguer stations due to maintenance works

‘Canigó’ is regarded as one of the most outstanding works in Catalan literature. The epic poem was written by the 19^th century Catalan writer and leading figure of the Catalan renaissance movement, Jacint Verdaguer. Named after Mount Canigou, the poem is set in Catalonia at the beginning of the 11^th century at the time of the Reconquista, the gradual liberation by the Christians of the Iberian Peninsula from Muslim rule. The poem tells the story of the young knight Gentil who left his fight against the Saracens for the love of Flordeneu, queen of the fairies. English engineer James William Millard had already published part of the poem in 2000 but ‘Mount Canigó. A tale of Catalonia’ by translator and professor at Universitat de Vic Ronald Puppo represents the first complete translation ever made. 

The Catalan actor David Verdaguer, known for his comic roles in Catalan TV programmes such as ‘APM’ and ‘Crackòvia’, has recently received the Gaudí Award in the best actor category for his leading role in ‘10,000km’, directed by Carlos Marqués-Marcet. After the success of the film, Carlos Marqués is planning a new project to be filmed in London with a supporting role for Verdaguer. Deeply dedicated to theatre, David Verdaguer has just performed in the play ‘El somni Americà’ at the Teatre Lliure in Barcelona.

It has been announced that the works of satirical English author, Tom Sharpe, will remain in Catalonia, following the writer’s last will. In addition, his former doctor and secretary Montserrat Verdaguer has been charged with the creation of a foundation. In his will, Sharpe – famous for writing the ‘Wilt’ series – left all manuscripts, personal correspondence, photographs and an unfinished 30,000 word autobiography to Verdaguer. The doctor stated how she “would like the foundation to be in Palafrugell”, the Costa Brava town where Sharpe spent the final years of his life. With the information she has received, Verdaguer will begin writing an extensive biography. The writer died on the 6^th of June at the age of 85 after having lived in the Catalan seaside village of Llafranc (in Palafrugell) since 1995.