pickWonderful ride through Catalan history and tour of Barcelona, especially its architecture. Robert Hughes is a knowledgable guide with fluid, muscular writing style. I found this dense at times - so much (art) history is involved - but I like Hughes' honesty & unflinching directness. Eg the kitsch additions to Sagrada Familia "could have been done by Mormons, not Catholics". Liable to offend - but Hughes liked to rail against modern 'sensitivity'.
"A great building is always modern because it renews itself for each generation that confronts it, whereas most of the 'new' wilts into irrelevancy quite fast."
Madly trying to finish this before we leave on Monday. It's big and heavy & not travel-friendly! Arrived early for a drink with friends at Nook Nosh, cosy wine bar, so I'm going to punch out some more pages... #currentlyreading #currentread #riotgrams day 22 ✈️
I find Robert Hughes's style heavy at times, but he does have a good turn of phrase. 👌
Ok dear Littens! Recommendations please. I'm going to Barcelona in July. What are your favourite novels set in Spain (by Spanish authors in translation preferably). I've read shadow of the wind & plan to read this heavyweight by Robert Hughes... Something literary or light to go with? Gracias! 🙏🏼📚
Barcelona | 
